$2M left in Frio’s ARP funds

By Breyana Segura - Chief Staff Writer | August 10, 2023

COUNTY EXAMINES WAYS TO USE PANDEMIC-ERA RELIEF

DRAINAGE PROJECTS, FACILITY UPGRADES, POLICE SUBSTATIONS ON COMMISSIONERS’ PRIORITY LISTS

Frio County commissioners have been stewards of the federal COVID-19 recovery funds since May 2021 and learned last month they have another three years to distribute the remaining monies across the county in an equitable way.
The federal funding, known as the American Rescue Act, served as a vital lifeline to the county in 2021 after county officials were tasked with having to cut the budget by nearly a million dollars due to a loss in revenues during the coronavirus pandemic.
“We were able to approve ARP funds as lost revenue because we had to cut our budget,” Frio County Auditor Crystal Marquez said during a budget workshop on July 18. “We did not collect all sales, ad-valorem or property taxes.”
Marquez said as of June the county had spent $2.4 million on various projects, studies and donations to non-profit organizations. She added that she was unsure of the remaining balance due to the account not being reconciled.
“Year to date, we have spent four hundred and nineteen thousand dollars, but I do need to see if there are any pending invoices,” the auditor said.
Contingent on invoices, the auditor is projecting $2 million left in ARP funds. The county has until 2026 to spend the money.
Marquez said there were several items proposed in the budget for ARP funds but believes some should be reconsidered.
“Like, we need to revisit the homeless line,” the auditor said. “We budgeted a hundred thousand dollars and we have not spent any. We need a policy and we do not have one.”
Pct. 3 Commissioner Raul Carrizales asked that $600,000 allocated for drainage projects remain in the budget. The commissioners explained that one study had recently been completed and a second study was nearing completion.
“Those studies are important for us to get grants,” Carrizales said. “It is unfortunate we have missed out on grant opportunities because we did not have studies done.”
As of February 2022, the county had used $256,000 for premium pay for essential workers; contributed $15,000 to the food bank; spent $20,000 on personal protective equipment; $12,000 was spent on equipment for the district and commissioners’ court; and a down payment of $103,000 was given for a modular building.
At that time, commissioners agreed to allocate $87,000 in contributions to non-profit organizations; $175,000 for repeaters and towers in Moore and Bigfoot; buy $30,000 in playground equipment for Moore; partially fund the rehabilitation of the Camino Real building for $400,000; and fund the master service agreement with SJPA in the amount of $36,000 for the Camino Real building.
According to Marquez, radios have been purchased for the two northern townships but a tower for Moore has not been purchased.
Frio County Chief Deputy Peter Salinas suggested that an animal control officer be considered with the federal funding.
“It is a thought,” Salinas said. “We have a program in the city; it does take some funding as far as a vehicle. If there is money, it is a good idea.”
The auditor added that there were three other line items for ARP funds that could be revisited, including $150,000 for building security, $37,000 for crisis prevention and $150,000 for the jail division.
Frio County Judge Rochelle Camacho is advocating for funding of police substations in Derby and Bigfoot after hearing concerns over law enforcement coverage from residents during town hall meetings.
“During precinct meetings there were lots of concerns about security in the smaller communities,” the judge said. “One is they are worried about response times; two, they are stressing there is no security in the middle of the night and also they feel strongly they are left out because there is no law enforcement around. A substation will allow the sheriff’s office to place a deputy there in rotation, so someone is always there in these communities.”