City to use ARPA fund for city purchases

BONNERS FERRY — The City Council voted to use American Rescue Plan Act funds to pay for city expenditures at a special meeting on April 19.

Since the Jan. 5, 2022, council workshop to discuss ARPA funding requirements, city staff has been working on a plan to address the future allocations of these funds toward projects that align with council directions of creating long-term investments with limited long-term liability, to not grow government and use funds to reduce the overall impact to the taxpayer.

City Administrator Lisa Ailport said that the prioritizing of funds was to not grow government, but to invest in the city without putting an additional burden on taxpayers. The funds will be going to replacing existing equipment that is in need of updating.

Recommended funding allocations for ARPA dollars included purchases for city departments such as streets, police, fire department, planning and golf this year and next year. Such expenditures included a new loader, used snowblower, sweeper box, police vehicles, repeaters, Tasers, used fire truck, course improvements for the golf course and updating the city’s comprehensive plan.

The city council has already approved purchases for new tasers for the Bonners Ferry Police Department and a used fire truck for the Bonners Ferry Fire Department. Ailport said that ARPA funds should reimburse these purchases to the city through the general fund.