Genesee County 

Recovery Plan 

State and Local Fiscal Recovery 

Funds 

2021 Report 
Genesee County 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 1

. 

Genesee County 

2021 Recovery Plan 

Table of Contents 

General Overview ...................................................................................................................... 2 

Executive Summary ................................................................................................................. 2 

Uses of Funds ......................................................................................................................... 2 

Promoting Equitable Outcomes ............................................................................................... 5 

Community Engagement ......................................................................................................... 5 

Labor Practices ....................................................................................................................... 5 

Table of Expenses by Expenditure Category ........................................................................... 6 

Project Inventory ....................................................................................................................... 6 

Project 001-Water Tower Infrastructure Project ...................................................................... 6 

 Project 002-Capital Investment that responds to the COVID-19 public health emergency ...... 6 

 Project 003-Improvement of the Design and Execution of Health/Public Health Programs ..... 7

 Project 004-Expediting Court Backlog .................................................................................... 7 

 Project 005 – Tax Assistance Navigator Positions .................................................................. 8 
Genesee County 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 2

GENERAL OVERVIEW 

Executive Summary 

Genesee County will receive $78,704,932 in direct recovery assistance under the American 

Rescue Plan (ARP) Act. 

The Genesee County Board of Commissioners approved five major areas of focus: 

1) Health Department Initiatives – aiding our response now and in the future to COVID19 issues, including vaccinations, and other related emergency health issues 

2) Administration of Justice Initiatives - address court case and jail backlog that is the 

result of COVID-19 related shutdowns 

3) General Tax Relief – for those residents that have been experienced negative financial 

impacts due to COVID-19

4) Capital Project Initiatives - water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure projects 

5) Lost Revenue Replacement 

Uses of Funds 

a. Public Health – Under this category, the County plans to fund the following: 

o Capital investments in public facilities to meet pandemic operations 

o Improvements to the data or technology infrastructure for Health and Public Health 

Programs 

o Public safety services to help move the backlog of court cases 

o Other costs related to mitigating and preventing the spread of COVID-19 

b. Negative Economic Impacts - The County approved Tax Assistance Navigator Positions 

to aid individuals in identifying programs to assist in prevention of homelessness. 

c. Services to Disproportionately Impacted Communities -Amounts have not been 

allocated to this category by the County as of July 31, 2021. 

d. Premium Pay - The payment of premium pay has not been an allocated use of the funds 

by the County as of July 31, 2021.

e. Water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure – The County has approved funding for a 

$2,000,000 water tower project. The County continues engagement with other local units of 

government in an effort to partner and maximize all relief dollars across our communities. . 

f. Revenue Replacement - At the onset of COVID-19, County offices were temporarily 

closed. Once the decision was made to re-open to the public, there was limited activity and 

primarily appointment based. The courts were under guidance from the State Court 

Administrative Office to limit activity. These factors, along with others, resulted in a 

reduction of for the County during that timeframe. The lost revenue calculated as of 

December 31st of 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 will be used to aid the County in providing 

government services. 
Genesee County 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 3

Genesee County has been awarded a wide array of grants to assist with the pandemic recovery 

as follows: 

Grant Name Description Amount Awarded

Water-Coronavirus Aid, 

Relief & Economic Security 

Part I 

To create a residential 

emergency relief program to 

provide direct payment 

assistance for all water and 

wastewater utilities designed to 

help households retain water 

service as an essential public 

health method of mitigating the 

spread of COVID-19. Eligible 

households may also receive 

assistance with plumbing and 

well repairs.

$881,504 

Coronavirus Relief Fund 

Emergency Services - 2020 

Part I 

To enable eligible Community 

Action Agencies to coordinate 

funding with other community 

partners, MDHHS local offices, 

and other CFR funding to assist 

low-income households with food 

distribution, eviction prevention, 

transportation, water assistance, 

utility assistance, housing, etc.

$140,550 

Coronavirus Relief Fund 

Water and Plumbing - 2020 

- Part I 

The focus of this program is to 

ensure every home has access 

to hot and cold water and at least 

one functioning toilet, 

shower/bath, kitchen faucet, and 

laundry tub. 

$315,000 

Quarantine Box 

Coronavirus Aid, Relief - 

2020 Part I 

To provide quarantine boxes with 

food/household items to people 

that are in quarantine that have 

tested positive for COVID-19, are 

waiting for test results, or are 

immune compromised. By 

providing the supplies they need 

to their home, the chance of 

exposure to themselves and 

others is mitigated.

$15,000 

Coronavirus Relief Fund 

Digital Divide - 2021 Part I 

The focus of this program is to 

grant funds to eligible Community 

Action Agencies to provide 

technology devices and an 

annual subscription to local 

internet connections for lowincome individuals and families 

that are 200% of federal poverty 

$241,028 
Genesee County 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 4

level working on a self-sufficiency 

custom plan.

Emergency Rental 

Assistance

To assist with rent and utility 

payments.

$12,085,085 

CDBG-CV  Rent/Mortgage/Utility 

Assistance 

 $216,844 

 Small Business 

Assistance 

 $461,125 

 Senior Housing $461,124 

 Basic Needs $216,844 

 Administration $461,123 

 Jail Improvements $488,562 

ESG-CV  Emergency Shelter 

Operations

$375,000 

 Emergency Shelter 

Improvements

$225,000 

 Rapid 

Rehousing/Homelessness

Prevention 

$620,396 

 COVID Shelter Space $100,000 

 Administration $146,709 

COVID – 19 CFR Local 

Health Department Contact 

Tracing 

To provide staffing, 

communications, IT, office 

supplies, computers, phones, 

access to people finding software 

or EMR, and indirect specifically 

for COVID-19 related work. 

 $879,038 

COVID-19 Coronavirus 

Relief Local Government 

Grants 

To cover expenditures that were 

necessary due to the public 

health emergency with respect to 

Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)

 $3,759,531 

COVID-19 Public Safety 

Payroll Reimbursement 

To cover public safety payroll 

expenditures that were 

necessary due to the public 

health emergency.

 $1,063,704 

COVID-19 First Responder 

Hazard Pay Premiums 

Pay for qualifying first responder 

hazard pay premiums provided to 

first responders who have 

performed hazardous duty or 

work involving physical hardship 

related to COVID-19. 

 $251,000 
Genesee County 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 5

Promoting equitable outcomes 

 Public safety services were chosen to assist in expediting backlogged court cases. The 

focus has been on those cases where individuals have been incarcerated for over a year 

while awaiting trial. The goal is to provide timely justice for the individual and the 

community. 

 The Tax Assistance Navigator program was selected to focus assistance to those 

individuals that were financially impacted as the result of the pandemic. The loss of 

income reduced their ability to pay property taxes and caused increased risk of 

foreclosure of property. The goal is to educate and assist in finding available programs 

that will provide financial support and education to establish financial stability going 

forward. 

 The Water Tower Infrastructure project allocation was approved to aid in much-needed 

emergency service, peak demand service, and fire protection for Genesee County 

residents. Funding for this project will help avoid rate increases that could be 

detrimental to the low-income residents. 

Community Engagement 

On May 25, 2021, the County held a brainstorming session at the Capitol Theater in Flint and 

invited the local units throughout the County to attend. This session facilitated discussion 

between local units about their individual needs as well as how all units could work together to 

maximize our investments. In July of 2021, the County reached out to these communities once 

again to request potential projects, estimated costs, project partners, and the potential benefits 

to the community of each project. Genesee County Water and Waste also proposed a potential 

infrastructure project that would benefit all residents of the County. The Commissioners will 

continue to seek input from the local units moving forward as funding decisions are made. 

Labor Practices 

The Water Tower infrastructure project will provide up to 50 skilled trade jobs for 18-24 months 

which will produce strong employment opportunities for workers. This project will require Davis 

Bacon Wages. The combination of these factors will promote an effective and efficient delivery 

of a high-quality infrastructure project. 
Genesee County 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 6

Table of Expenses by Expenditure Category 

Category Cumulative 

expenditures to 

date ($)

Amount spent 

since last 

Recovery Plan

1 Expenditure Category: Public Health 

1.7 Capital Investments or Physical Plant Changes 

to Public Facilities that respond to the COVID19 public health emergency

$22,795 $22,795

6 Expenditure Category: Revenue Replacement 

6.1 Provision of Government Services TBD* TBD*

*This amount is yet to be determined based on the Final Rule to be issued by the U.S. 

Department of Treasury. 

Approved Project Status and Performance Indicators 

Project 001: Water Tower Infrastructure Project 

Funding amount: $2,000,000 

Spent to date: $- 

Project Expenditure Category: 5.14 Drinking Water: Storage 

Project overview

 This project is a partnership with the Genesee County Drain Commissioner’s Office, 

Division of Water & Waste Services (GCDC-WWS), and will fund $2,000,000 of the 

$5,347,142 project. This construction will be a one million gallon elevated storage tank to 

provide emergency service, peak demand service, and fire protection for the Genesee 

County residents. The project is estimated to be completed within 18-24 months. The 

funds were not expended as of July 31, 2021.

 This project would not contribute directly to addressing climate change. 

Output Measures 

 34 communities having access to Water Tower 

Outcome Measures 

 Access to emergency service, peak demand service, or fire protection through use of the 

Water Tower for all communities in Genesee County 

 Elimination of the need for a water rate increase, which can negatively impact the most 

vulnerable in our community, the poor and elderly on fixed incomes 

Project 002: Capital Investment that responds to the COVID-19 public health emergency 

Funding amount: $22,795 

Spent to date: $22,795 

Project Expenditure Category: 1.7 Capital Investments or Physical Plant Changes to Public 

Facilities that respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency 

Project overview
Genesee County 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 7

 Due to COVID protocol implemented by the courts per guidance of the SCAO rules, the 

County was required to relocate jury selection to a location that would allow social 

distancing. This relocation required the purchase of a metal detector and scanner at the 

administration building to screen individuals entering the building for jury selection.

Output Measures 

 Metal Detector and scanner on site 

Outcome Measures 

 Safe social distancing during jury selection to allow the courts to continue to function 

Project 003: Improvement of the Design and Execution of Health and Public Health 

Programs 

Funding amount: $211,212 

Spent to date: $- 

Project Expenditure Category: 1.8 Other COVID-19 Public Health Expenses (including 

Communications, Enforcement, Isolation/Quarantine) 

Project overview

 This project allows for the mobility optimization of our health department through 

improvements to the technology infrastructure. It also involves implementation of a new 

electronic health records system. These costs include professional services, hardware, 

and software related to the project.

Output Measures 

 Minimization of future costs 

 Optimization of mobile capabilities 

 Electronic access to health records 

Outcome Measures 

 Upgraded technology allows for continuity of communication between health staff in the 

office and the staff working remotely at sites responding to COVID-19 needs including 

vaccination clinics, etc. 

 Easier access to health records when assisting individuals with their health assessments 

Project 004: Expediting Court Backlog 

Funding amount: $1,338,449.16 

Spent to date: $- 

Project Expenditure Category: 1.9 Payroll Costs for Public Health, Safety, and Other Public 

Sector Staff Responding to COVID-19 

Project overview

The court operations were crippled during the COVID-19 pandemic causing case backlogs 

to spiral out of control. This has impacted justice for both individual victims and our 
Genesee County 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 8

community. There was difficulty in locating victims and witnesses and engaging them to 

participate in various court events up to and including trial. In an effort to expedite the court 

backlog, this project will have four investigators that will be focused on case coordination 

with the Prosecutor’s Office after warrants have been authorized. An upgrade of a senior 

level assistant prosecuting attorney to a managing assistant prosecuting attorney to provide 

the ability to authorize plea deals, coordinate difficult cases, assist with discovery issues, 

and ensure that Genesee County Prosecutor’s Office policies and procedures are being 

followed in situations where supervisor approval is required in any part of the cases process 

will also be a key role. 

Output Measures 

 Number of cases worked 

Outcome Measures 

 Ability to expedite the backlog of court cases through the justice system 

Project 005: Tax Assistance Navigator Positions 

Funding amount: $760,000 

Spent to date: $- 

Project Expenditure Category: 2.5 Household Assistance: Eviction Prevention 

Project overview

Due to the impact of COVD, the payment of property taxes and utility costs have been 

difficult for many citizens. There are available programs to assist individuals with delinquent 

taxes. An example is the Department of Social Services program which requires the total 

delinquent tax amount to be less than $2,000. Another example is the hardship program, 

offered by the Genesee County Treasurer’s office, which extends the foreclosure deadline 

and suggests monthly payments for constituents. The Michigan State Housing 

Development Authority (MSHDA) did offer a program, Step Forward, geared to assist 

taxpayers who were behind in mortgages, taxes, and tax liens; however, this program 

expired in 2020. A section of the law gives the County Treasurer an option to reduce the 

interest rates to qualified participants, but it requires a stricter repayment plan. A recent 

change in legislation allows a County Treasurer to offer a new program, Pay As You Stay 

(PAYS), in which they can reduce the interest or taxes due, however, the primary 

requirement for this program is the taxpayers must by receiving a poverty exemption from 

the local government. 

In response to COVID emergencies, the State of Michigan will be starting a new program to 

provide up to $20,000 to qualified taxpayers to pay mortgages, delinquent and current taxes, 

or utilities. Funds have been provided to assist renters and landlords to pay rent, taxes, and 

utilities. 

The Tax Assistance Navigator positions will help taxpayers to get qualified for these 

programs and aid in getting them the assistance that they need. For example, for our PAYS 

program, taxpayers must receive a poverty exemption from the local government to be 

eligible. Many taxpayers are not aware that this exemption exists. The Tax Assistance 
Genesee County 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 9

Navigator would help navigate individuals through that process and aid them in getting funds 

to pay delinquent taxes. 

These Tax Assistance Navigators will work with local units and notify taxpayers of programs 

that exist as well as potentially help develop new programs to fill the gaps left by existing 

programs. They will also develop programs to help taxpayers maintain future financial 

independence. Some examples of potential programs might include offering a financial 

literacy or budgeting class or working with a financial institution to create a tax payment 

savings program. 

Output Measures 

 Number of people or households receiving eviction prevention services 

Outcome Measures 

 Decrease in the number of individuals experiencing foreclosure 

 Prevention of homelessness 

 Tools provided to aid individuals to maintain future financial independence