DECEMBER 19, 2024 |
Photo – ARPA logo – Bigfoot99 file photo
The Wyoming Governor’s Office announced that Wyoming’s allocation of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds are now fully committed, putting the money out of reach—at least for now- from the Federal government.
Wyoming received nearly $1.1 billion from the federal ARPA allotment of 2021. Of that amount, approximately $584 million was used to replace revenue lost because of the economic downturn from the disruptive federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
One impact of the resulting downturn was that for the first time, in the state’s history, there was a period of time when no oil and gas drilling rigs were operating in Wyoming.
Most of the federal revenue replacement funds were used within the Department of Health and Department of Corrections to conserve the General Fund dollars appropriated to them, ensuring the State had a sustainable approach to its operations during the economic downturn.
The flush of federal COVID dollars into the national economy had a critical side-effect: Inflation.
So, $13.7 million was conditionally approved by the State Land and Investment Board (SLIB) for inflationary costs for approved Health and Human Services (HHS) related projects during the 2023 General Session through 2023 House Bill 0195.
Wyoming also put some of those General Fund dollars into permanent savings, which will generate income to the benefit of Wyoming taxpayers for future generations.
The bill for Joe Biden’s spending spree remains an outstanding debt that future generations will have to pay. In a statement, Governor Mark Gordon said, “The ARPA funds appropriated by the Federal government will be paid for by our children and grandchildren. “It is fitting that we use those funds at a state level to reduce the potential tax burden of Wyoming’s current and future taxpayers.”
Some Wyoming communities and organizations were unable to completely obligate the ARPA funds within federally mandated time frames.
