Commissioners, public clash over ARPA money

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SANDPOINT — The potential spending of American Rescue Plan Act money for EMS expenditures caused a clash between the public and commissioners during Tuesday’s board of county commissioner’s meeting.

Those who chose to speak focused on spending ARPA money for routine “claims and demand batch” spending through the Clerk’s Office.

ARPA is a $1.9 trillion stimulus package passed by Congress earlier this year in response to the pandemic. Many members of the public have spoken at public meetings expressing concern that spending the federal money would cause smaller government entities to adhere to potential future executive orders about pandemic response actions.

During public comment, Asia Williams asked the commissioners to review two resolutions the board has previously voted on regarding ARPA money.

“Commissioners continue to tell us that they aren't spending ARPA money, but as of today we are up to about $500,000 in ARPA money that has been spent,” Williams said, “It’s not accurate to continue to tell the public that we will not and are not spending ARPA money.”

“You’re playing a game with our civil liberties while you verbally tell us you agree with not spending ARPA money. You continue to approve ARPA money spending,” Williams said.

Williams’ concerns became more specific when the Clerk’s Office asked the commission to approve routine claims and demand batch spending.

Claims and demand batch spending, simplified, are the routine bills and costs needed to maintain county services, including EMS services.

The Clerk’s Office brought two claims and demands batches before the commissioners totaling $690,542.74.

Maureen Patterson asked commissioners to deny approving the demands batch on the premise that part of the funds would be provided with ARPA money.

Dan Rose asked if the Clerk’s Office could give confirmation that ARPA money was not being spent as a part of the demands batch.

“[The Clerk’s Office] said it was up to you to decide whether or not it was going to be ARPA funds, so is it going to be ARPA funds?” asked Terry Barlow.

“We don’t know yet. We’re still waiting for that legal opinion,” said Commissioner Chairman Dan McDonald.

“I checked with the Clerk’s Office before I came here, and that is coming out of the ARPA line,” Williams said.

“It’s disingenuous to make it clear as mud that it’s not coming out of [ARPA funds]. … Currently we are up to about $500,000 and I confirmed with the county clerk before I came here to make sure I knew which line it was.” Williams said.

“I have similar heartburn on this stuff,” said Commissioner Jeff Connolly. “But she explains that they are coded to a line that as long as we have the funds, it’s not a concern because we can cover it with these funds.”

A deputy clerk whose name was unable to be confirmed clarified that already spent ARPA money could be compensated with EMS budget money if the county’s legal advisory decided they were not going to spend the federal money. She specified that this was for a more streamlined clerical process.

“I would say moving forward you guys need to come up with a better system than ‘give-and-take,’” said Barlow. “That’s stupid. You guys should be able to do this instead of using ARPA money at all.”

“It’s not that stupid when you look at the larger picture,” said McDonald before explaining other financial expenditures related to a new EMS facility. “All it is right now is just a journal entry.”

When asked by another commenter who the commission’s legal team was, McDonald said they are working with a third party who is involved with other counties and their respective ARPA money.

“We got an outside consultant working on it,” McDonald said. “We’ve got an outside consultant that’s actually working with a number of different counties on the same issue. They’re one of the top accounting firms in the world. And they are the one who’s helping us devise a strategy on what this really means.”

One member of the county’s legal council added to the discussion.

“I realize that it’s important to get this done sooner rather than later,” said Bill Wilson of the prosecutor's office. “But this is something that we need to take a good hard look at, and we’re doing that.”

“ARPA money is printed money,” said Maureen Patterson. “It is prudent to live within your means.”

After several others started speaking, McDonald called the meeting to order, saying he was closing public comment.

“If we can get proof that [spending ARPA money] would tie us to an executive order and not just the executive order within the terms and conditions, then we’ll pay the money back and we’ll be done,” McDonald said.

The commissioners then unanimously approved the routine expenditure.