City Council Authorizes Distribution of COVID-19 Relief Funds
The Belton City Council passed a resolution Tuesday allocating more than $5.6 million in federal COVID-19 recovery funds in Belton.
The funds are part of the American Rescue Plan, which distributed $350 billion in funding to support state, local, and tribal government response and recovery from COVID-19. All projects represent revenue replacement, and the funds must be spent by Dec. 31, 2026.
Much of Belton’s allocation will be spent on small business grants, infrastructure, and parks—$700,000 is targeted to assist food distribution programs and utility bill assistance. A total and $1.2 million will be used to implement the city's compensation plan for employees.
The allocations approved by the Council include:
Amount | Project |
$400,000 | Delinquent account assistance ($100,000) Assistance program ($300,000) |
$300,000 | Expand or maintain nonprofit food distribution programs |
$850,000 | Small business grant program |
$900,000 | Construct park and restore historic standpipe |
$500,000 | Rehabilitate and restore vacant structure of historical Mount Zion Methodist Church |
$1.52 million | Construct and maintain infrastructure, including streets |
$1.2 million | Increase pay for government employees to maintain competitiveness |
The $1.2 million in employee pay adjustments includes increases for police and firefighters and a 2% salary increase for all City of Belton employees.
Human Resources Director Charlotte Walker and Finance Director Mike Rodgers said the pay adjustments are necessary to stay competitive with other governmental entities which have increased pay for employees, according to a comprehensive compensation study present to the City Council in February.
In order for businesses to qualify for the $850,000 in grants they must show how COVID impacted their business, as well as provide a budget for the use of the funds and receipts for expenditures. More details will be forthcoming, we hope to work with Central Texas Council of Governments on fund administration.