HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo re Federal Funding ICG 021722 (0002)
Phone (360) 385-9100 Fax (360) 385-9382 jeffbocc@co.jefferson.wa.us
Board of County Commissioners
1820 Jefferson Street
PO Box 1220
Port Townsend, WA 98368
Kate Dean, District 1 Heidi Eisenhour, District 2 Greg Brotherton, District 3
MEMO
From: Kate Dean, Jefferson County
To: Intergovernmental Collaborative Group
Re: Federal Funding Discussion
Date: February 15, 2022
Background: The American Rescue Plan (ARPA) and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) passed by Congress
in 2021 are providing the highest levels of funding available to local governments in decades. Funding falls generally
into 3 pots: Broadband, Transportation, and Climate/Energy/Environment. Many jurisdictions and organizations in
the County are mobilizing to take advantage of these historic funding opportunities. Additionally, members of the
federal delegation have re-introduced earmarks (now called Congressionally Directed Spending) and the State has
record revenues that it will consider investing in infrastructure projects.
Proposal: Given the availability of funds that will be flowing from federal and state coffers, Jefferson County
proposes that the ICG devote its May 18, 2022 meeting to a cross-jurisdictional discussion of priorities, asks and
projects in the pipeline. This conversation would serve to identify shared priorities, allow for coordination of timing
and asks, prevent competing proposals, and familiarize one another with priority projects.
Discussion: A number of variables should be discussed in the February 2022 ICG meeting to plan for a constructive
meeting in May. Questions to consider:
• Who shall be invited, in addition to the 4-member governments? Eg: Jefferson Healthcare, School Districts,
Transit, others?
• What planning time range are we considering- 5 years? 10 years?
• How to handle sensitive topics, such as bonds or levies that require voter approval?
• Scope of discussion: Top 5 projects? All priority projects?
• Any other issues to consider?
Resources: Attached to the February meeting packet is a fact sheet on local government funding in IIJA and a
sortable excel spreadsheet of program funding.
Additionally, the 475-page Building a Better America guidebook, with descriptions of all funding opportunities can
be found here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/build/
And the Municipal Research Service Center published an excellent summary of funding opportunities here:
https://mrsc.org/Home/Stay-Informed/MRSC-Insight/February-2022/Historic-Infrastructure-Funding-Open.aspx
Recommendation: The County asks that the ICG discuss and determine a framework for a cross-jurisdictional
discussion in May of capital planning and infrastructure funding to support and leverage unprecedented funding
opportunities for Jefferson County in coming years.
Kate Dean