Baltimore County To Get $160 Million From American Rescue Plan

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD — The U.S. Department of Treasury released a breakdown of how much financial help communities can expect from the $350 billion Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds.

Baltimore County is set to receive $160.7 million. It was among 24 Maryland jurisdictions that was allocated financial support through the program.

"With this funding, communities hit hard by COVID-19 will be able to return to a semblance of normalcy; they'll be able to rehire teachers, firefighters and other essential workers – and to help small businesses reopen safely," Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in a statement.

The emergency funding for local governments was established by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. The funds are meant to be used to respond to acute pandemic-response needs, fill revenue shortfalls among state and local governments, and support the communities and populations hardest-hit by the COVID-19 crisis, according to the Treasury.

Baltimore County will get $160,706,923.

Here's the breakdown of funding by jurisdiction in Maryland:

• Allegany County — $13,677,483
• Anne Arundel County — $112,509,414
• Baltimore City — $115,278,475
• Baltimore County — $160,706,923
• Calvert County — $17,971,897
• Caroline County — $6,488,724
• Carroll County — $32,718,855
• Cecil County — $19,978,378
• Charles County — $31,710,758
• Dorchester County — $6,201,834
• Frederick County — $50,413,962
• Garrett County $5,635,629
• Harford County —$49,616,420
• Howard County — $63,261,464
• Kent County — $3,772,496
• Montgomery County — $204,083,827
• Prince George's County — $176,626,110
• Queen Anne's County — $9,785,919
• Somerset County — $4,975,608
• St. Mary's County — $22,047,987
• Talbot County — $7,221,973
• Washington County — $29,339,498
• Wicomico County — $20,124,834
• Worcester County — $10,154,000

During the Great Recession of 2007-2009, when cities and states were facing similar revenue shortfalls, the federal government didn't provide enough aid to close the gap, Yellen said.

Recipients can use funds to do the following and have the option of flexible spending up to the level of their revenue loss, according to the treasury:

• Support public health expenditures, by funding COVID-19 mitigation efforts, medical expenses, behavioral health care, mental health and substance misuse treatment, and certain public health and safety personnel responding to the crisis.
• Address negative economic impacts caused by the public health emergency, including by rehiring public sector workers, providing aid to households facing food, housing or other financial insecurity, offering small business assistance, and extending support for industries hardest hit by the crisis.
• Aid the communities and populations hardest hit by the crisis, supporting an equitable recovery by addressing not only the immediate harms of the pandemic, but its exacerbation of longstanding public health, economic and educational disparities.
• Provide premium pay for essential workers, offering additional support to those who have borne and will bear the greatest health risks because of their service during the pandemic
• Invest in water, sewer and broadband infrastructure, improving access to clean drinking water, supporting vital wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, and expanding access to broadband internet.

— By Jenna Fisher and Elizabeth Janney