By Daniel Winningham
Another round of stimulus checks will soon be sent to residents’ bank accounts as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which is a feature of the federal government’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Along with that, the federal legislation signed into law earlier this month will also provide funding for Missouri counties and municipalities.
Perry County is scheduled to receive $3.71 million direct from the U.S. Treasury, according to an estimate from the Missouri Budget Project.
Local cities and towns will receive funding as well, something which didn’t occur in previous Covid-19 relief packages adopted at the federal level. The city of Perryville is slated to receive $1.56 million, according to an estimate from the Missouri Budget Project. City administrator Brent Buerck is aware that the city will be receiving money, but as to how it will be spent, that remains to be determined. Buerck said he plans to notify the Board of Aldermen about it and they will have a discussion at a future meeting as to the use of the funding.
The city of Altenburg is projected to receive $61,330, the city of Frohna is listed as receiving an estimated $45,130 while the town of Longtown has an allocation of $18,420. All of this funding distribution is being handled by the state of Missouri.
Perry County presiding commissioner Mike Sauer isn’t aware of guidance or recommendation on where the money can be spent once it’s allocated to the county.
“We have no idea what we can or can’t use it for,” Sauer said.
In June 2020, the county received $2.4 million after a stimulus package was approved, with the stipulation that it must be spent on Covid-related expenses.
“If it’s similar to the last time, we’re going to have to come up with something creative,” Sauer said.
The amount of funding projected for the county is $1.31 million more than $2.4 received in the spring of 2020, which marks an increase of about 54.58 percent.
Sauer said personal protective equipment for ambulance and fire departments, as well as schools were a part of what the county purchased with the funds last year.
While many Republican elected officials were against the recently adopted legislation, there have not been very many alternative ideas for relief put forward.
The American Rescue Plan includes $1.19 billion for counties, plus $42 million for jurisdictions with a population of less than $50,000.
Congressman Jason Smith (R-Salem) serves as the minority leader on the House Budget committee, and was not in favor of the bill. “This was the most partisan package we’ve ever seen,” Smith said. “Not a single Republican voted for this bailout bill, and in fact, the only bipartisan thing about it was the vote against it.”
Smith said “less than nine percent of the $1.9 trillion is going towards crushing the virus or putting shots in people’s arms.”
“This massive spending bill, and the partisan process by which it was passed, fails the American people,” said Sen. Roy Blunt. He decried the partisan nature of the legislation, which he said is filled with “untimely spending and misplaced priorities.”
Missouri’s other senator had similar thoughts.
“The American Rescue Plan watered down the most important components of true Covid relief – vaccine distribution and direct relief to working people – and shoveled millions to abortion providers and ‘environmental justice’ causes,” said Sen. Josh Hawley. “Missourians deserve better than a ‘relief’ bill funding (President Joe) Biden’s entire first-term, radical leftwing agenda.”
Hawley had favored “direct aid payments” as well as proper funding for vaccine distribution. In fact, he offered up a stand alone bill, referred to as a Blue Collar Bonus, that would fund every worker making below the median age of $16.50 an hour “an automatic, advanceable tax credit tied to hours worked.”
Individuals were to start receiving their “economic impact payment” as early as March 12. For additional information, visit irs.gov/coronavirus/get-my-payment.
The entire text of the American Rescue Plan can be found at congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/1319/text.
