American Rescue Plan

Normal Town Council member Scott Preston says the town should wait to see what needs emerge during the next phase of COVID-19 before deciding how to spend remaining federal relief funding.

Normal Town Council member Scott Preston says the town should wait to see what needs emerge during the next phase of COVID-19 before deciding how to spend remaining federal relief funding.

The COVID-19 pandemic is still creating economic challenges and high inflation rates, and recent case numbers are posing a threat to the health and safety of citizens. Normal Mayor Chris Koos shares his insights for distributing federal funding and preparing for winter months.

Town of Normal staff suggested Monday evening using $10.8 million in federal pandemic relief dollars on a variety of initiatives, ranging from cybersecurity and new technology to health care and transit services.

Bloomington City Council members have a long list of possibilities for using $13 million in American Rescue plan funds. The council largely says roads and sewers are top priorities, but several council members said they want the city to address social inequities that were revealed and widened during the pandemic.

The Town of Normal is still asking for public feedback on how to use federal pandemic relief money, but City Manager Pam Reece said some themes are beginning to emerge. The nearly $11 million in American Rescue Plan money for the town can be portioned to several buckets. One of those, Reece said, is public health.

McLean County wants to explore two different ways to give employees COVID-related bonuses. One would pay all essential workers. The other would pay those who get the COVID vaccine.

Some of the more than 1,300 residents of the Town of Normal who are way behind on water and sewer utility payments, potentially because of the pandemic, have begun to take care of the problem.

The Town of Normal said Monday it wants public feedback on how to spend pandemic relief money. The town is making an online survey available to help shape how to use $10.8 million over the next two years.

McLean County government is looking at a budget increase of about 25% next year as the county uses federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds, and additional revenue from retail and cannabis sales and other sources to fuel more pandemic relief and a major boost in highway work.