Prepared by the Office of Budget & Fiscal Policy

Published: August 31,2021

El Paso County

American Rescue Plan Act

State & Local Fiscal Recovery Funds

2021 Recovery Plan
El Paso County, 2021 Recovery Plan Report 1

El Paso County

2021 Recovery Plan

Table of Contents

GENERAL OVERVIEW .....................................................................................................................2

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

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

Promoting Equitable Outcomes ..........................................................................................................3

Community Engagement......................................................................................................................4

Labor Practices ......................................................................................................................................4

Use of Evidence ......................................................................................................................................4

Table of Expenses by Expenditure Category.....................................................................................5

PROJECT INVENTORY .....................................................................................................................9

PERFORMANCE REPORT...............................................................................................................12

Required Performance Data..............................................................................................................12

Program Data and Performance Indicators...................................................................................12

REVISION LOG ..............................................................................................................................12

APPENDIX 1: RESOURCES ............................................................................................................13
El Paso County, 2021 Recovery Plan Report 2

GENERAL OVERVIEW

Executive Summary 

El Paso County, “County”, was granted $163,012,143.00 in Coronavirus State and Local 

Fiscal Recovery Funds, “Funds”, from the American Rescue Plan Act, “ARPA” which was 

signed in to law on March 11, 2021. The first half, $81,506,071.50, was deposited with the 

County in May 2021. The El Paso County Commissioners Court, “Court”, has focused the 

use of its Recovery Funds in the following areas:

 Support public health expenditures, by allocating funds to ongoing testing 

and vaccine programs, as well as other COVID-19 mitigation efforts. Allocations 

have been made for medical expenses, behavioral healthcare, public health and 

safety staff and equipment to ensure safe environments of public facilities; and

 Address negative economic impacts caused by the public health 

emergency including economic harms to workers, households, small businesses, 

impacted industries, and the public sector; and

 Replace lost public sector revenue and returning government services to the 

extent of the reduction in revenue experienced due to the pandemic; and

 Invest in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure, especially in those 

areas of the county known to be disproportionately affected by the pandemic. 

These investments will improve access to clean drinking water, support vital 

wastewater and infrastructure, and expand access to broadband internet.

Uses of Funds

Through a series of meetings with the Court, County Administration identified the key 

areas of focus for the recovery funds it received. 

County Departments were asked to submit eligible projects or expansion of current 

programs that meet the use criteria. Over $700 million in projects and programs were 

received by County Administration. The County has also welcomed local non-profits 

attending to the increased needs of the community due to the pandemic to submit 

requests for ARPA funds. 

a. Public Health (EC 1)

The Court approved the allocation of $23 million of the first half of funds for 

programs and expenditures that continue to address the public health needs for 

testing, care, vaccinations and safe environments in public facilities in El Paso 

County. The County will also be investing funds in expanding the El Paso County 

Sheriff’s office Crisis Intervention Team, whose purpose is to improve service 

delivery by providing rapid and appropriate response to those individuals in 

mental health crisis. The County has also allocated funds to purchase two mobile 

command units to be used for vaccination events in unincorporated areas of the 

county. In order to provide support for ongoing COVID care, the County has also 

made an allocation to El Paso County Hospital District to offset expenses.

b. Negative Economic Impacts (EC 2)
El Paso County, 2021 Recovery Plan Report 3

In addition to addressing the health crisis, the Court has allocated $8,750,000 to 

assist in economic recovery programs such as aid to small businesses and job 

training programs. The County will also partner with local non-profits to provide 

specialized economic recovery programs.

c. Services to Disproportionately Impacted Communities (EC 3)

The County has allocated $5 million dollars to address homelessness in the county 

and a re-entry program.

d. Water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure (EC 5)

$17 million has been allocated for water and wastewater projects in the outlying 

areas of the county. These areas are generally disproportionately impacted 

communities whose neighborhoods lack the essential services of safe drinking 

water, centralized wastewater or both. Another $5 million dollars has been 

allocated to expand broadband service throughout the unincorporated areas of El 

Paso County.

e. Revenue Replacement (EC 6)

At the onset of the pandemic, the County took swift action to reduce services and 

expenses and reallocate funds to address the public health crisis. The County has 

set aside $10.5 million dollars of ARP funds for potential reimbursement of these 

funds to return to pre-pandemic levels of services and reserves. 

f. Administrative and Other (ED 7)

Lastly, $12,256,071.50 has been allocated for administrative purposes in managing 

an overseeing the programs and expenditures to ensure best practices, strategic 

use and compliance with the federal guidelines for the ARP funds.

The County continues to evaluate requests for project and program funding and adjust 

allocations according to the level of response necessary to meet the public health and 

economic needs of the community.

In addition to ARPA funds, the County has also received emergency rental assistance, 

transportation project funding and utility assistance grants to continue or expand services 

to those most impacted by the pandemic. Those funds and programs are not included 

within this plan, but augment the programs and services being provided.

Promoting Equitable Outcomes 

As projects are developed, this plan will be updated to describe efforts and achievements

toward promoting equitable outcomes, a key priority of the Court. 

Future projects will describe:

a. Any historically underserved, marginalized, or adversely affected groups to be 

served.

b. Communication efforts aimed at residents and businesses to become aware of the 

services being provided by ARPA funds.

c. Ensure access and benefits across groups within the County.
El Paso County, 2021 Recovery Plan Report 4

d. Administrative requirements that help to remove barriers that would otherwise 

result in disparities of service levels.

Community Engagement 

The County continues to develop its Community Engagement plan as projects are being 

developed. 

Labor Practices 

The County will implement labor standards to support the recovery of the local economy 

and households. Infrastructure projects approved will include Davis-Bacon Act 

requirements for prevailing wages.

Additional standards will be implemented as projects continue to be developed.

Use of Evidence 

At the time of this publication, there are no active projects or expenditures that require 

an evidence-based approach or a program evaluation. However, the County remains 

committed to implementing best practices and industry standards for the deployment of 

various service lines proposed to be funded with ARPA dollars.
El Paso County, 2021 Recovery Plan Report 5

Table of Expenses by Expenditure Category

Expense Category Recovery Plan 

Budget Year 1

Cumulative 

expenditures to 

date ($)

Amount spent 

since last 

Recovery Plan

Recovery 

Plan Budget 

Year 2

1 Expenditure Category: Public Health

1.1 COVID-19 Vaccination $9,372,413.00 $2,586,631.29

1.2 COVID-19 Testing $500,000.00

1.3 COVID-19 Contact Tracing

1.4

Prevention in Congregate Settings 

(Nursing Homes, Prisons/Jails, 

Dense Work Sites, Schools, etc.)

$3,000,000.00

1.5 Personal Protective Equipment $750,000.00

1.6 Medical Expenses (including 

Alternative Care Facilities)

1.7

Capital Investments or Physical Plant 

Changes to Public Facilities that 

respond to the COVID-19 public 

health emergency

1.8

Other COVID-19 Public Health 

Expenses (including 

Communications, Enforcement, 

Isolation/Quarantine)

$900,000.00

1.9

Payroll Costs for Public Health, 

Safety, and Other Public Sector Staff 

Responding to COVID-19

$2,850,000.00

1.10 Mental Health Services $1,750,000.00

1.11 Substance Use Services $0.00

1.12 Other Public Health Services $3,877,587.00

2 Expenditure Category: Negative Economic Impacts

2.1

Household Assistance: Food 

Programs 

2.2

Household Assistance: Rent, 

Mortgage, and Utility Aid 

2.3

Household Assistance: Cash 

Transfers 
El Paso County, 2021 Recovery Plan Report 6

2.4

Household Assistance: Internet 

Access Programs

2.5

Household Assistance: Eviction 

Prevention

2.6 Unemployment Benefits or Cash 

Assistance to Unemployed Workers

2.7

Job Training Assistance (e.g., 

Sectoral job-training, Subsidized 

Employment, Employment Supports 

or Incentives)

$1,000,000.00

2.8 Contributions to UI Trust Funds*

2.9

Small Business Economic Assistance 

(General) $3,750,000.00

2.10 Aid to nonprofit organizations $500,000.00

2.11 Aid to Tourism, Travel, or Hospitality $1,700,000.00

2.12 Aid to Other Impacted Industries $1,800,000.00

2.13 Other Economic Support 

2.14 Rehiring Public Sector Staff

3 Expenditure Category: Services to Disproportionately Impacted Communities

3.1 Education Assistance: Early Learning 

3.2

Education Assistance: Aid to HighPoverty Districts

3.3

Education Assistance: Academic 

Services 

3.4

Education Assistance: Social, 

Emotional, and Mental Health 

Services 

3.5 Education Assistance: Other 

3.6 Healthy Childhood Environments: 

Child Care 

3.7

Healthy Childhood Environments: 

Home Visiting 
El Paso County, 2021 Recovery Plan Report 7

3.8

Healthy Childhood Environments: 

Services to Foster Youth or Families 

Involved in Child Welfare System 

3.9.

Healthy Childhood Environments: 

Other 

3.10

Housing Support: Affordable 

Housing 

3.11

Housing Support: Services for 

Unhoused persons $5,000,000.00

3.12

Housing Support: Other Housing 

Assistance 

3.13 Social Determinants of Health: Other 

3.14

Social Determinants of Health: 

Community Health Workers or 

Benefits Navigators 

3.15

Social Determinants of Health: Lead 

Remediation

3.16 Social Determinants of Health: 

Community Violence Interventions 

4 Expenditure Category: Premium Pay

4.1 Public Sector Employees

4.2

Private Sector: Grants to other 

employers 

5 Expenditure Category: Infrastructure

5.1

Clean Water: Centralized wastewater 

treatment

5.2

Clean Water: Centralized wastewater 

collection and conveyance

5.3

Clean Water: Decentralized 

wastewater $15,300,000.00

5.4

Clean Water: Combined sewer 

overflows

5.5

Clean Water: Other sewer 

infrastructure

5.6 Clean Water: Stormwater

5.7 Clean Water: Energy conservation
El Paso County, 2021 Recovery Plan Report 8

5.8 Clean Water: Water conservation

5.9 Clean Water: Nonpoint source 

5.10 Drinking water: Treatment

5.11

Drinking water: Transmission & 

distribution $1,700,000.00

5.12

Drinking water: Transmission & 

distribution: lead remediation

5.13 Drinking water: Source

5.14 Drinking water: Storage 

5.15

Drinking water: Other water 

infrastructure

5.16 Broadband: “Last Mile” projects

5.17 Broadband: Other projects $5,000,000.00

6 Expenditure Category: Revenue Replacement

6.1 Provision of Government Services $10,500,000.00

7 Administrative and Other

7.1 Administrative Expenses $7,756,071.50

7.2 Evaluation and data analysis $4,500,000.00

7.3

Transfers to Other Units of 

Government

7.4

Transfers to Nonentitlement Units 

(States and Territories only)

Total $81,506,071.50 $2,586,631.29 $0.00 $0.00
El Paso County, 2021 Recovery Plan Report 9

PROJECT INVENTORY 

The County will add projects to this section as they are developed and approved by the 

Commissioners Court.

Project 1: Mobile Command Units

Funding amount: $2,586,631.29

Project Expenditure Category: Public Health 1.1

Project Overview

 Purchase of two mobile command units to be used by El Paso County Emergency Services 

District #2 during unincorporated vaccine events. 

 Pop up vaccine events which began in February, made evident the lack of equipment on 

hand necessary to accommodate the large number of clients, public health workers, 

public safety workers and volunteers associated with these efforts. The size limitations 

prevented the vaccination efforts from proceeding to more remote areas of the County 

where locations did not have the capacity to accommodate large gatherings of 

individuals.

 ESD#2 was instrumental in planning multiple vaccine events in the rural areas of the 

County due to the locations of their fire stations and familiarity with the neighborhoods 

in the unincorporated parts of the county.

 The units were purchased in accordance with the Uniform Guidance at 2 CFR Part 200, 

Subpart D. Equipment and real property acquired under this program must be used for 

the originally authorized purpose. Consistent with 2 CFR 200.311 and 2 CFR 200.313, 

any equipment or real property acquired using SLFRF funds shall vest in the non-federal 

entity. Any acquisition and maintenance of equipment or real property must also be in 

compliance with relevant laws and regulations.

Use of Evidence

 Use of the command units will not be evidenced based. The units will be utilized for 

ongoing vaccination events and activities throughout the County, with a focus on the 

neighborhoods in unincorporated areas

When the units are placed into service, additional information will be added.

Project 2: Personal Protective Equipment- Safe Return to Operations

Funding amount: $750,000.00

Project Expenditure Category: Public Health 1.5

Project Overview

 Purchase of personal protective equipment (PPE), to include but not limited to gloves, 

masks, hand sanitizer, disinfectant, plexi-glass barriers, signs, thermometers, etc. for all 

County personnel and facilities. 

 As County employees begin to transition back into public buildings, there is an ongoing 

need for PPE to mitigate the ongoing pandemic and protect employees and the public

from infection. 

 The supplies are purchased in accordance with the Uniform Guidance at 2 CFR Part 200, 

Subpart D. Equipment and real property acquired under this program must be used for 
El Paso County, 2021 Recovery Plan Report 10

the originally authorized purpose. Consistent with 2 CFR 200.311 and 2 CFR 200.313, 

any equipment or real property acquired using SLFRF funds shall vest in the non-federal 

entity. Any acquisition and maintenance of equipment or real property must also be in 

compliance with relevant laws and regulations.

Use of Evidence

 Use of the PPE will not be evidenced based. The supplies will be utilized for ongoing 

mitigation and protection at all County facilities.

Project 3: El Paso County Sheriff-Crisis Intervention Team

Funding amount: $3,500,000

Project Expenditure Category: Public Health 1.9 and 1.10

Project Overview

 The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) is a community partnership between law 

enforcement and mental health professionals who receive specialized training on mental 

health crisis related calls for service.

 CIT is needed to meet behavioral health needs exacerbated by the pandemic and respond 

to other public health impacts. As outlined in the Interim Final Rule issued by the 

Department of the Treasury, “these services include mental health treatment, substance 

misuse treatment, other behavioral health services, hotlines or warmlines, crisis 

intervention, overdose prevention, infectious disease prevention, and services or 

outreach to promote access to physical or behavioral health primary care and 

preventative medicine.”

 The County deployed the first CIT teams in 2021. The units are proposed to expand to 

24/7 operation in FY22 utilizing County General Funds and other grant awards. ARPA 

funds will be utilized beginning in FY23. The CIT will transition from grant funds to 

General Funds beginning in FY 2025 and is intended to be funded through continuous 

grants and/or General Funds.

 Between April 1, 2021 and July 31, 2021, the CIT responded to 190 calls. In certain cases 

individuals required overlapping services.

 Mental Health Related 165

 Substance abuse 76

 Emergency Detention Orders 67

 Voluntary Inpatient 11

 Referral to Outpatient 106

 Other Referral for Services 124

 Criminal Outcries/.Investigations 14

 Medical Clearance Needed 29

 Equipment and real property acquired under this program must be used for the 

originally authorized purpose. Consistent with 2 CFR 200.311 and 2 CFR 200.313, any 

equipment or real property acquired using SLFRF funds shall vest in the non-federal 

entity. Any acquisition and maintenance of equipment or real property must also be in 

compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
El Paso County, 2021 Recovery Plan Report 11

Use of Evidence

A model for evidence will be applied at the time the expanded program is deployed in October 

2021.

 Goals of this program are:

 Diversion from jail.

 Diversion for hospital.

 Avoid and reduce law enforcements use of force.

 Linkage to outpatient services.

 Decrease recidivism.

 As this program progresses, additional information will be added for program 

evaluation.

 Funding will be allocated as follows:

 YEAR 1-2023

• $876,477 for Public Safety salaries and fringe

• $626,628 for EHN Contract for Mental Health Professionals

• $33,350 Vehicle Maintenance, supplies training and other accessory items.

 YEAR 2-2024

• $227,436.75 for Public Safety salaries and fringe

• $754,779 for EHN Contract for Mental Health Professionals

• $30,390 Vehicle Maintenance, supplies training and other accessory items.

 YEAR 3-2025

• $792,327 for EHN Contract for Mental Health Professionals

• $15,252.50 Vehicle Maintenance, supplies training and other accessory 

items.

 YEAR 4-2026

• $210,866 for EHN Contract for Mental Health Professionals

• $3,335 Vehicle Maintenance, supplies training and other accessory items.
El Paso County, 2021 Recovery Plan Report 12

PERFORMANCE REPORT

Goals, measures, outputs and outcomes will be prepared during project development and 

tracked as the projects are implemented. No projects have been started.

Required Performance Data

Future publications of this plan will include data for the following if applicable:

a. Household Assistance (EC 2.2 & 2.5) and Housing Support (EC 3.10-3.12): 

i. Number of people or households receiving eviction prevention services 

(including legal representation)

ii. Number of affordable housing units preserved or developed

b. Negative Economic Impacts (EC 2): 

i. Number of workers enrolled in sectoral job training programs

ii. Number of workers completing sectoral job training programs

iii. Number of people participating in summer youth employment programs

c. Education Assistance (EC 3.1-3.5): 

i. Number of students participating in evidence-based tutoring programs

d. Healthy Childhood Environments (EC 3.6-3.9): 

i. Number of children served by childcare and early learning (pre-school/preK/ages 3- 5)

ii. Number of families served by home visiting

Program Data and Performance Indicators

Future publications of this plan will include data for the following if applicable:

 Key performance indicators for the major SLFRF funded projects 

 Logic models to identify their output and outcome measures.

 Any allocation of funds used to improve data or technology infrastructure and data 

analytics, as well as program evaluations.

REVISION LOG 

Version Date Published Summary of Changes

1.0 Tuesday, August 31, 2021 Initial Publication
El Paso County, 2021 Recovery Plan Report 13

APPENDIX 1: RESOURCES

Resources:

SLFRF-Compliance-and-Reporting-Guidance.pdf (treasury.gov)

Additional information around Expenditure Categories is located in Appendix 1 of the 

Reporting Guidance. 

For More Information

More information about the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund program and 

associated reporting requirements are located at www.treasury.gov/SLFRP .

Questions on reporting, eligible uses, or other general topics should be directed to 

SLFRP@treasury.gov.