$3,500,000 in ARP Funds spent on Public Safety in 2022 and 2023
Dear Howell Township,
This is a request for public records made under OPRA and the common law right of access. I am not required to fill out an official form. Please acknowledge receipt of this message.
Records requested:
The Township was awarded $4,898,156 in total ARPA funds. The Township used $2,000,000 of the original ARPA fund tranche toward "Public Safety, Police Department, ARP Funded Government Services Offset" in 2022 Municipal Budget. The Township used $1,500,000 of the second ARPA fund tranche toward "Public Safety, Police Department, ARP Funded Government Services Offset" in 2023 Municipal Budget. The Township used a total of $3,500,000 of ARPA funds for Public Safety expenditures "for the continued protection of the citizens of Howell Township as well as aiding in the ongoing response to the public health emergency."
Request detailed audit of the $3,500,000 in ARPA funds used for "Public Safety, Police Department, ARP Funded Government Services Offset" for both the 2022 and 2023 Municipal Budgets.
Request copies of FCOA 25-240 accounts showing how ARPA funds were allocated and spent.
If funds were used for premium pay for eligible workers performing essential work, request detailed audit how much premium pay each eligible worker received in 2022 and 2023, as well as retrospective pay in 2021.
Yours faithfully,
Howell Anonymous 07731
Good Morning,
Under the provisions of the ARPA funds, the US Treasury allowed
municipalities the ability to elect a standard deduction amount of up to
$10 million dollars to be used as revenue replacement spent against a
municipal service. Since the Township was allocated $4.8 million dollars
of ARPA funds, the Township, like several other New Jersey municipalities,
elected to use this standard deduction towards revenue replacement with
the offsetting budget spending on Police Salaries and Wages. Our budget
documents that we submit to Local Government Services, also listed on the
Township website, shows both the ARP funding revenue anticipated and the
corresponding appropriation offset in Police S&W.
I have attached a copy of the budget line item details to show the ARP
funds were spent for Police S&W.
No funds were used to provide premium pay, so no audit record of that
exists.
This fulfills your OPRA request.
Regards,
Xiomara Ortiz
Administrative Assistant III
Clerk’s Office
4567 Route 9 North
2nd Floor
Howell, NJ 07731
(732) 938-4500 Ext. 2241
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