Flooded with cash after Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act last year, state and local governments have devised some creative ways of spending their stimulus funds.
A number of state and local governments experienced budget surpluses in 2021 after bringing in higher-than-expected levels of revenue.
The ARP doled out $350 billion to state and local governments in what was described at the time as emergency relief funding. Texas Republican lawmakers have advanced a bill that would spend $3 billion of the state’s relief funds on property tax refunds to homeowners — more than 5 million of whom would receive $525 checks under the proposal.
Others used significant portions of their relief funds to replace revenue losses and fund city services, such as by shoring up their police and fire departments. Still others invested heavily in expanding internet access, addressing homelessness, and providing support for small businesses still struggling to get back on their feet.
Duchess County, New York, plans to overhaul a Minor League Baseball stadium, home of the Hudson Valley Renegades, for upward of $12 million.