“The county is free to allocate its funds as it sees fit as long as the proposed allocations meet the federal government’s requirements which include responding to the public health emergency and its negative economic impacts, responding to those performing essential work during the pandemic, the provision of government services to the extent of the reduction in revenue and making necessary investments in water, sewer or broadband infrastructure.

With three years to allocate the funding, County Administrator Scott Stevens said the bulk of the county’s ARPA funds will go toward affordable housing, capital improvements and tourism efforts.