Norris looking for ways to spend $680K in relief funds
Norris should be getting about $680,000 in additional federal COVID relief funds over the next year or more, and city officials are now mapping out plans for how the money would be spent.
The city already has nearly $448,000 in utility improvement projects underway from previous grants given to Norris under the American Rescue Act Plan, but the $680,000 the city now expects to get will be in addition to that money, City Manager Scott Hackler told the City Council during its recent January meeting.
Hackler is now reviewing what the federal requirements are for spending that money, which is intended to help remediate any effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the city’s operations and budget.
He suggested that additional utility improvements – water and sewer – could be completed using the money. But city officials have learned that some items on their wish list might not be eligible for the COVID funds – including street-improvement projects.
During the January council meeting, Mayor Chris Mitchell also noted that Anderson County is due to receive about $14 million in additional federal COVID relief payments, and suggested that the city look into getting a share of that money as well.
As for the $680,000, the mayor said:
“I see this as a great financial opportunity to fund COVID related items that benefit all the citizens of Norris. I want to have the public involved in discussions on how to use the funds.”
City officials do believe that the 8 percent raises given to city employees for the current fiscal year, as well as additional raises in the next budget, could be funded by the COVID relief money.
The justification for using the money for the raises would be that inflation caused by the pandemic forced the city to increase salaries to remain competitive in the workplace.
Using the federal funds for items considered to be COVID related that are already in the city budget could free up money in the regular budget to cover purchases of other ineligible items, the mayor said.
The process of receiving the money and finding ways to use it legitimately could take two or more years, city officials said.