Subject:
Title
Resolution authorizing the County Administrator, as the County Budget Officer, to waive certain budgetary controls with respect to the American Rescue Plan Act, Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund appropriations to ensure timely expenditure of such funds by the applicable federal deadline.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval of the resolution authorizing the County Administrator, as the County Budget Officer, to waive certain budgetary controls with respect to the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) fund appropriations to ensure timely expenditure of such funds by the applicable federal deadline.
• Pinellas County was awarded $189.382M under ARPA to be expended by December 31, 2026. As of July 14, 2026, the County has expended approximately $173.876M, representing 91.8% of the total award. To ensure full and timely expenditure of remaining funds within Treasury's required timeframe and to avoid the loss or return of unspent federal dollars, this item grants the County Administrator limited additional flexibility over budgetary controls applicable solely to ARPA-related appropriations.
• This item delegates certain budgetary controls for the ARPA Fund to the County Administrator within already-approved ARPA projects.
• Notwithstanding the limitations set forth in Resolution 19-40 or any other budgetary control policy of the County; this item requests that the Board grant the County Administrator, as County Budget Officer, the authority to waive certain standard budgetary control procedures with respect to appropriations of ARPA grant funds, as necessary, in order to obligate and expense such funds in full prior to the applicable federal deadlines described above.
• This authority permits the County Administrator to amend, transfer, and reallocate ARPA appropriations among already-approved eligible projects and departments in amounts exceeding the fifty percent departmental threshold otherwise applicable under Resolution 19-40, provided that: (a) the total ARPA award appropriation is not exceeded; (b) all such amendments remain consistent with Treasury's implementing regulations and guidance; and (c) such amendments are used solely to ensure timely expenditure of ARPA funds by the applicable deadlines.
• This resolution does not have a fiscal impact on Pinellas County.
Body
Strategic Priorities:
Resilient Infrastructure and Environment
1.2 Maintain and enhance County infrastructure.
1.6 Ensure sustainable water management.
Healthy and Safe Communities
2.1 Improve public health.
2.2 Enhance community safety.
Smart Service Delivery
4.2 Achieve and maintain a high level of customer satisfaction.
4.4 Pursue continuous improvement.
Summary:
Summary
Approval of the resolution authorizing the County Administrator, as the County Budget Officer, to waive certain budgetary controls with respect to the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) fund appropriations to ensure timely expenditure of such funds by the applicable federal deadline.
Delegation of certain budgetary controls for the ARPA Fund to the County Administrator within already-approved ARPA projects.
Notwithstanding the limitations set forth in Resolution 19-40 or any other budgetary control policy of the County; the Board hereby grants the County Administrator, as County Budget Officer, the authority to waive the standard budgetary control procedures with respect to appropriations of ARPA grant funds, as necessary, in order to obligate and expense such funds in full prior to the applicable federal deadlines described above. This authority permits the County Administrator to amend, transfer, and reallocate ARPA appropriations among eligible projects and departments in amounts exceeding the fifty percent (50%) departmental threshold otherwise applicable under Resolution 19-40, provided that: (a) the total ARPA award appropriation is not exceeded; (b) all such amendments remain consistent with Treasury's implementing regulations and guidance; and (c) such amendments are used solely to ensure timely expenditure of ARPA funds by the applicable deadlines.
Body
Background Information:
Pinellas County was awarded $189.382M under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) to be expended by December 31, 2026. As of July 14, 2026, the County has expended approximately $173.876M, representing 91.8% of the total award. To ensure full and timely expenditure of remaining funds within Treasury's required timeframe and to avoid the loss or return of unspent federal dollars, this item grants the County Administrator limited additional flexibility over budgetary controls applicable solely to ARPA-related appropriations.
Fiscal Impact:
This resolution itself does not have a fiscal impact on the County.
Staff Member Responsible:
Chris Rose, Director, Office of Management & Budget
Katherine Pazian, Budget & Financial Management Analyst
Partners:
N/A
Attachments:
RES-26-XX (26-1303A)
RES-19-40