Westmoreland municipal leaders awaiting answers on expected pandemic relief money

Part of the recently passed $1.9 trillion federal pandemic relief package includes a good chunk of money intended for local governments — with up to about $2.4 billion for municipalities in Pennsylvania.

Like elsewhere in the state, many in Westmoreland County still are wondering just how much they will get to cover lost revenue and unexpected expenses over the past year from the coronavirus pandemic. Several local officials also said it is not yet clear exactly how the money can be used.

Greensburg is aware that it will receive some money, said Kelsye Hantz, city administrator.

“But we are awaiting guidance and regulations from the federal and state governments as to how the funds can be allocated or used,” she said. “Currently, the language in the American Rescue Plan Act is insufficient to start planning on the use of the funds. We also have not received official notice as to our allotment of funding in the aid package.”

The Tribune-Review last week published a list released by U.S. Senate Democrats indicating how much each municipality in the state could potentially receive. Amounts for the 65 municipalities in Westmoreland County ranged from $10,000 for Donegal to $4 million for Hempfield. Those figures are not final, according to local officials, and might not indicate what actually will be allotted.

At a recent public meeting in Irwin, borough manager Shari Martino said there was a discrepancy between what a county official told her had been listed as Irwin’s allocation ($370,000) and what he believed the community is eligible to receive.

After discussing the matter with Zachary Kansler, who is solicitor for Irwin, Latrobe and Greensburg, Martino said she was told money allocated from the American Rescue Plan must first be used to cover the difference in revenue the borough generated in 2020 compared to 2019. Irwin received $286,000 less in revenue in 2020 than in 2019.

Municipal officials will get a “briefing” from county officials Thursday on what expenses would be eligible for any money that remains after covering the revenue drop. As far as she knows, the remaining money would be placed into a reserve account, Martino said.

One of the eligible expenses is for Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System projects, she said.

County Commissioner Sean Kertes said he is unaware of any meeting scheduled next week between the county and local officials. The county has only received a basic description of preliminary guidelines as to how the money can be spent, he said, adding the money is not expected until at least mid-June.

Hempfield manager Jason Winters said he is working with other municipal leaders to get a better grasp on some of the restrictions for the funds.

“We would love to spend it on infrastructure improvements in the township,” he said.

Murrysville officials have identified about $500,000 in lost revenue, with the tab possibly increasing.

“We are waiting on guidance from the feds concerning uses,” said Jim Morrison, the municipality’s chief administrator. “I think it is important people know this is not a blank check to be used by municipalities as they see fit. I anticipate the uses to be very narrow.”

But the financial help is appreciated, Unity Supervisor Mike O’Barto said.

“We are quite pleased that we’re getting the money, and we want to utilize it in a very smart fashion,” he said. “It’s up in the air what you can actually use it on.”

He said, if the guidelines allow, he would like to use the funding toward such things as water and sewer extensions or addressing some deficient bridges.

Latrobe city manager Michael Gray said it’s unclear when the stimulus funding would be released and agreed there are “too many questions on what we can use it for.”

He hopes the city will have more guidance in the coming weeks.

Local leaders should remain patient until the U.S. Treasury establishes guidelines, said Rick Schuettler, executive director of the Harrisburg-based Pennsylvania Municipal League.

The language of the law “clearly says water, sewer, broadband. It says those words, so I think you’re safe,” Schuettler said. “The question is does water, sewer mean stormwater? Is it storm sewer, is it stormwater, is it sanitary sewer? So those are the kind of things we need clarification.”

Help with housing and homeless issues and small business assistance also could be possible, he said.

“Certainly, there’s many people who are going to find the use of the funds to make up for the lost revenue from covid,” Schuettler said. “That’s going to be a chunk for some people. Not everybody.”

The Municipal League has held two sessions with officials in the state to discuss the funding. It has a capital conference scheduled in early May.

“Hopefully, we’ll know more then, but I don’t know that for sure,” Schuettler said.