Durham County 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 0

Durham County, North Carolina

Recovery Plan Performance Report

State and Local Recovery Funds

August 31, 2021 Report
Durham County 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 1

Executive Summary

This Recovery Plan Performance Report is submitted as required by the U.S. Department 

of the Treasury (Treasury). On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed the American 

Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Of the $1.9 trillion package, Durham County will receive 

$62,445,275 which will be split into two equal payments of $31,222,637.50. ARPA funding 

will be a transformative investment to the community, with the goal of leveraging 

resources from other local, state, and federal dollars to optimize the potential overall 

community impact. According to Treasury guidance, funding priorities should focus on 

long-lasting improvements which can be invested into six major categories including: 

pandemic, replace public sector revenue loss, and support premium pay for essential 

workers. Further, the funds can support water and sewer infrastructure and improve 

broadband access. The categories will be refined as the Treasury finalizes the spending 

guidelines. 

Guiding Principles

Guiding principles were established as an initial framework when planning with the Board 

of County Commissioners (BOCC), staff, and the community on potential use of ARPA 

dollars. These principles include following the US Treasury Guidelines for funds use 

which are listed below. These guidelines will be refined as the final US Treasury spending 

parameters are established. 

US Treasury Guidelines for Primary Ways to Invest ARPA Funds

• Support public health response: COVID-19 mitigation efforts, medical 

expenses, behavioral health care and certain county public health, public safety, 

human services, and other related staff.

• Address negative economic impacts: Respond to economic harms to workers, 

families, small businesses, impacted industries and rehiring of public sector 

workers (including county staff)

• Replace public sector revenue loss: Use funds to provide government services 

to the extent of the reduction in revenue experienced during the pandemic – this 

provision allows a much broader use of funds
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• Premium pay for essential workers: Offer additional compensation, up to $13 

per hour in additional wages, to those – both county employees and other workers 

in the community – who have faced and continue to face the greatest health risks 

due to their service. 

• Water and sewer infrastructure: Make necessary investments to improve 

access to clean drinking water, invest in wastewater and stormwater infrastructure 

• Broadband infrastructure: Provide investments to provide unserved or 

underserved locations with new or expanded broadband access

In addition to the US Treasury spending parameters, guiding principles were established 

in May 2021 to help the BOCC and staff prioritize projects that promote evidence-based 

solutions when spending ARPA funds. These additional principles will be refined as the 

final US Treasury rules are established. The additional county-specific guiding principles 

are listed below.

1. Leverage ARPA funds with federal, state, and local community resources to 

optimize the overall allocation.

2. Prioritization given to funding that addresses equity including health disparities, 

closing the achievement gap, historically disenfranchised communities, 

infrastructure support to unincorporated areas and funding to support minorityowned businesses. 

3. Evaluate infrastructure needed to address compliance increased workloads 

resultant from COVID-19 in human services, public safety, and administrative 

operations.

4. Establish framework for an inclusive process to allow for community discussions 

and input. Coordinate discussions with community partners when possible, with 

communications which include accommodations for non-English speaking and 

individuals with hearing and visual impairment. 

5. Project prioritization will be given to funding priorities that support the Board’s 

strategic and capital plans and other assessments endorsed by the BOCC.

Projects have evidence-based and/or data driven analytics to support strategic 

plan placement.

6. County expenses that can be reimbursed through FEMA should be limited on 

ARPA dollars.

7. Identify strategic one-time projects and/or a sustainability strategy for initiatives 
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that require funding beyond one year.

8. Establish a rubric to evaluate and rank projects to ensure the optimal and highest 

use of funds.

9. Develop strong internal controls that ensure compliance standards are met. 

Compliance must remain in the forefront of project development, execution, and 

evaluation. Keep the end in mind. As stewards of these federal dollars this 

ownership must be reminded often to help ensure procurement and contractual 

obligations align with Uniform Grant Guidelines.

Planning for ARPA Funds Use

The planning process for ARPA fund use is underway. In the FY 2021-22 budget 

development, process included potential approaches for ARPA fund use consistent with 

US Treasury preliminary guidelines and approaches used with the previous CARES act

funding. CARES funding was allocated to jurisdictions across the country to assist with 

expenses incurred in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Funding distributions 

occurred in two periods to include $5,480,715 in FY 2019-20, and $3,309,388 in FY 

2020-21. 

Durham County’s CRF plan allocated dollars for medical expenses for testing of 

detention center detainees and employees county-wide. Further, the funds supported 

the procurement of critical personnel protective equipment (PPE) and increased 

cleaning protocols to meet CDC recommended standards. Funding also covered for 

additional staffing needed due to increased workload, expanded shifts, work 

reassignments, or other personnel-related costs due to COVID-19. The dollars also 

reimbursed the County for costs incurred from staff having to cover for employees who 

could not report to work due to being “high risk” as well as to cover for applicable job 

responsibilities for staff that entered a quarantined period due to potential COVID-19 

exposure or infection or positive diagnosis. Finally, funding offset expenses for remote 

work to include software enhancements, computers, printers, and other critical 

supplies/equipment.

During the FY 2020-21 budget development process, some of the projects and initiatives 
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that were funded by CARES dollars were considered for potential use through ARPA 

funding. Project budgets are being refined and will be officially established by October 

2021. As such, the Project Inventory and Performance Report details will be provided in 

future reports once final vetting occurs. Potential projects under consideration include 

efforts to support public health and safety with non-congregate housing needs for 

families impacted by homelessness, additional dollars for cleaning standards required 

for COVID-19 safety, support for increased screening and security services for high 

traffic areas including the Human Services Building, Courthouse and Libraries. Further 

funding will be potentially allocated to fund School Health Nurses. These preliminary 

projects are estimated to total $5.1 million and will be refined by the next reporting period. 

Additional internal and external engagement will occur on the potential use of funds. 

Through December 2021, the County will receive input from departments, the general 

public, and community stakeholders on the potential use of funds. This approach will 

also ensure increased clarity has occurred on guidance for funds use. Further, 

jurisdictions are in anticipation of additional federal and state funds that may become 

available through the state budget allocation process to support infrastructure 

improvements. This clarity will also ensure the best use of ARPA funds occurs.

Community Engagement 

Gaining insight from citizens, the business community, and other stakeholders on the 

approaches to use ARPA funds, is critical to ensure that transformative investments 

occur. Durham County has a population that is very engaged in civic activities. Durham 

County partnered with the City of Durham during two engagements with emphases on 

potential uses for ARA funding. The first session’s area of focus included facilitated 

conversations surrounding Health, Housing, Education, Employment and 

Entrepreneurship. The participants gave feedback on perceived unmet needs and 

specific questions surrounding whether to invest ARPA funds. The second engagement 

included the chance for meeting participants’ rank priority areas as identified in previous

engagement sessions, and to identify missing categories. These discussions were 
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coordinated by North Carolina Central University, with City of Durham serving as primary 

lead for engagement process. County of Durham staff assisted with the facilitation 

process, with future engagements of the county focused on conversations with 

community members in the unincorporated areas and county-specific topics that were 

not covered during the joint City and County engagements. During the second 

engagement, meeting participants ranked the following priorities or fund use identified 

in the chart below. This feedback coupled with other reports and analysis will help staff 

develop potential projects for consideration to the Board of County Commissioners. The 

below chart captures feedback from residents on the approaches that should be used to 

allocate ARPA funding. 

Durham County Government’s internal and external engagement will continue through 

November 2021 for initial ARPA funding allocations. This approach allows the 

organization to have additional insight on final US Treasury guidelines. Further, it allows 

for a better understanding of potential resources that may occur from the state and/or 

federal levels. The engagement includes website with information on the ARPA funds 

and Durham County Government process for resource allocation. The information is 

being refined as additional clarity unfolds about the process. A link to the Durham County 

Joint City of Durham and Durham County Government 

Community Engagement Prioritization – Participant Engagement

August 5, 2021
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ARPA website follows: American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funds | Durham County (dconc.gov).

The following table highlights next steps with the overall engagemnet, reivew allocaiton 

and evalution process. These steps will be refined in upcoming months as the BOCC

deliberates the overall framework.

Labor Practices

Durham County has not yet identified infrastructure projects that will be funded with 

ARPA funds. Funded projects will follow federal labor and construction guidelines.

Table of Expenses by Expenditure Category

There were no expenses identified for this reporting period. Subsequent reports will 

show expenditures.

Use of Evidence

Evidence-based interventions and data supported projects will be funded by the County. 

Durham County Government ARPA Funds Use Planning 

Engagement, Review, Allocation and Evaluation 
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Further, the County will conduct systematic program evaluations for initiatives funded with 

ARPA dollars. 

The county will expand the current infrastructure to support required data collection, 

monitoring, and fiscal review. The appropriate internal controls will occur to ensure 

performance data integrity and fiscal acumen occurs. The following chart captures the 

draft rubric that will be used to evaluate initial projects. The rubric is tentatively scheduled 

to be finalized by October 2021. 

Project Inventory 

Project Inventory and Performance Report details will be provided in future reports. This 

information is being finalized. 

spent

Durham County Government Draft ARPA Rubric