Alachua County American Rescue Plan Projects
Press release from Alachua County
ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. – Alachua County has updated its American Rescue Plan – State & Local Fiscal Recovery Funds website. The website includes the most up-to-date information about American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, expenditures, and projects.
The Alachua County Commission allocated ARPA funds to address the impact and recovery of the COVID-19 pandemic and address opportunities needed to prepare for future such events.
View the County Commission’s December 6, 2022, Special Meeting to see the Commission’s most recent ARPA funding decisions and multiple project updates.
View the PowerPoint presentation from the December 6, 2022 Meeting.
The $52.25 million in ARPA funds received by the County has been allocated to these broad categories:
- $9.5 million to support public health response
- $11.5 million to address negative economic impacts
- $15 million for broadband infrastructure
- $1.25 million for water infrastructure
- $15 million to replace public sector revenue loss
If you’re not one of their pets, I mean projects, don’t count on getting any.
To make a breakdown like that, can we view the list of projects that have already been approved? It’s more likely based on how the Surtax was used with smoke and mirrors to dazzle our outlying Cities and Towns.
$9.5 million to support public health response – define response?
$11.5 million to address negative economic impacts – a new Dollar Store?
$15 million for broadband infrastructure – does GRU get this?
$1.25 million for water infrastructure – maybe new potable lines for GRU
$15 million to replace public sector revenue loss – that’s wide open
Before the Surtax was voted on, we should have demanded a list of projects that it would have supported. That’s a legitimate request for a 10 year tax.
These are so very vague and open to interpretation. Disguising what they want to do with the money by using subjects that “sound” like they are positive for the community. Typical tactic!
Where does this spending go?
Negative Economic Impact, Local Food Security, Meat Processing Infrastructure, $2,500,000.
What is that?
Alachua County plans to build and own a $5.25 million industrial cattle slaughterhouse net to a residential neighborhood near an elementary school near downtown Newberry.
Is this what covid money is for?
Alachua County will build and own the slaughterhouse. A private company (none found yet) will show up and lease the facility to slaughter 4000 cows and hogs per year. BoCC Commissioner Prizzia has been working behind closed doors with Newberry Mayor Marlowe, UF-IFAS, Santa Fe College, Workforce Florida and the Farm Bureau on this waste of tax money. Is this what covid relief money is for?
This scheme has the blessing of Chuck Clemons to get the Florida legislature to fund the $40 million sewer plant expansion Newberry needs to operate this slaughterhouse but cannot afford. This will also be a Jobs training facility to train youth for jobs that do not exist. In addition, even though there is no requirement to sell the beef in Alachua County, the county report says this will provide food for the food deserts in east Gainesville. Really. Read https://alachua.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=11492053&GUID=5A5FB669-0392-4016-9758-640869FCD5F9
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All this from the new Springs County Slaughterhouse. Your Alachua County tax dollars at waste.
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Here is the article the Alachua Chronicle will not write:
https://www.wuft.org/news/2022/12/07/alachua-county-will-spend-2-5m-in-federal-aid-on-a-publicly-owned-slaughterhouse/
People need to remember this list of trash the commission and its staff is funding with the ‘covid recovery’ money for the next time one of the commissions asks for a tax. No matter what they promise and what we approve, they will find a crack in the funding language to spend the money on whatever they want.
This scheme is a ploy to get the WMD and Florida Legislature to fund the $40 million sewer plant enlargement in Newberry. “Look we have a slaughterhouse but cannot begin operation until they build a new sewer plant.” A scam to claim it is a training facility to train youth for jobs that do not exist. In addition, even though there is no requirement to sell the beef in Alachua County at a discount, the county report says this will provide affordable food for the food deserts in east Gainesville.
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All this from the new Springs County Slaughterhouse.
Your Alachua County tax dollars at waste.