The Floyd County Courthouse (Ryan Crowe/FCR)
FLOYDADA – “Y’all are way ahead of your neighbors.” That was the message right out of the gate from Texas Association of Counties’ Alan Bristol, who came to the Floyd County Commissioners Court hearing on Monday. “Y’all are doing it right, I want to applaud you.”
Bristol’s appreciation was how Floyd County was going about pursing the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds made available to municipalities across the nation. The $1.9 Trillion dollar stimulus will pay Floyd County a grand total of $1.1 Million, with half of that already sitting in county coffers. Floyd County Commissioners approved the county’s working plan on how to handle the money, and how to equitably share the money between Floydada, Lockney and residents who live outside of the city limits.
The funds are available for the county to do with whatever they wish… with a few stipulations. It must be used on an infrastructure project and ‘shore up and advance’ services currently offered by the agency who takes the money. Floyd County Judge Marty Lucke told the court he started making a plan the moment he heard ARPA was going to become a reality. “In my head I knew what we needed to do.”
The money cannot be used to directly pay down debts or fund pensions, but Lucke said the main thing is that the county keep good records and follow state guidelines for its use.
Using the formula commissioners agreed upon Monday, the City of Floydada will have $334,000 available to it based upon population. Currently the city is pursing using those funds on replacement of three aging water tanks. The City of Lockney will have $204,000 based on current population numbers. The remaining funds would be used for county projects across the four precincts.
Lucke’s plan does stipulate the cities and county enter an ‘interlocal agreement’ before the funds are granted that stipulates the designated project be completed by June 30, 2026 and that the money will be paid to the city upon completion of the project. The county has until December 31 of 2026 to account for the money or must surrender whatever funds remain.
When Commissioner Nathan Johnson asked if the requirements would be met with concern, Commissioner Tanner Smith said ultimately the money is the county’s responsibility. “We’re the ones who have to account for the expenditure of the funds.”
The plan passed unanimously on a 4-0 vote. The second half of Floyd County’s funds will be released to the county at the end of June.
