The Greensboro City Council has about $58.5 million in American Rescue Plan money that it is trying to decide how to spend.
On Friday, Sept. 17, the council held a work session on the ARP money and received some good news.
Assistant City Manager Larry Davis explained that while in June the City Council had allocated $7.8 million in ARP funds to offset losses at the Coliseum, the Coliseum had received $10 million in “Shuttered Venue Grants” so that $7.8 million would be returned to the ARP bucket.
The Tanger Center for the Performing Arts was not eligible for the Shuttered Venue money because when the COVID restrictions closed all the venues in the state it had never been open, so the $859,000 of ARP money used for The Tanger was the only ARP money that had been allocated.
Davis also said that while $4.8 million of ARP funds had been used to balance the 2021-2022 city budget, that two-and-a-half months into the new fiscal year it appeared revenue growth would be sufficient to cover that shortfall and the ARP funds were not expected to be needed.
So while it appeared the city had spent $13.4 million of the total allocation of $59.4, as it turns out the city had only spent $859,000, leaving $58.5 for other projects.
Those who are interested in having a say in how this money is spent should go to the city’s simulator webpage at https://greensboro.abalancingact.com/arp-funding. So far 826 people have accessed the simulator and their input appears to have a lot of influence on how the City Council will spend that funding
For the criteria survey 87 people out of the 299,000 plus people of Greensboro have responded, and those 87 rated a page on the report.
Davis said that Greensboro was discussing collaborative projects with Guilford County and Mayor Nancy Vaughan suggested that High Point also be contacted about funding countywide projects.
I am sure it will be spent “wisely”
How about putting money in the street maintenance budget to fix and pave all streets, not just potholes? Or more money to hire more road crews to cut the weeds and grass from roadways, some of it in the road itself? The exit ramp from Wendover to Benjamin Parkway is an example of poor management of their primary mission as is Bryan Blvd. Please, please, do not continue to give money to the various 501 C-3 groups whose benefactors sit on the council.
Right! Don’t forget 24-7 armed guards & security check points at all schools. They have this in Govt Buildings downtown and elsewhere, just not in public schools. Been to the Court House lately? Empty your pockets of metal, metal detectors and wands. The Council gets this protection. How about our children?