Residents can voice their opinions on how their city government is choosing to spend nearly $40 million of Covid relief funding by contacting their city council members.

The Columbus Consolidated Government announced how it would like to spend its second batch of $40 million in Covid relief funds.

The $39,241,019 is the second batch of funding received by the city from the American Rescue Plan.

The first batch of “Phase 1” funding — which also totaled $39,241,019 — was received back in June of 2021. The new “Phase 2” funding was received five months ago in June of 2022.

During a public meeting held on October 27, 2022, deputy city manager Pam Hodge presented a slideshow itemizing how the city would like to spend this second batch of covid relief funds.

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Hodge’s slideshow presentation broadly itemized CCG’s spending plan through individual requests from various governmental departments. 

While this second “Phase 2” ARP funding only provides roughly $39 million, the total amount requested from all departments is more than $69 million.

According to Hodge’s slides, there are stipulations on what the funding can be spent on. We checked with the American Rescue Plan’s FAQ Page and found that Hodge’s stated criteria appear to be correct. 

According to the National League of Cities (NLC), which hosts information about the American Rescue Plan’s Covid relief funding, use of the funds must conform with at least one of the following:

• Respond to the public health emergency with respect to COVID-19 or its negative economic impacts;
• Respond to workers performing essential work;
• Provide revenue replacement for the government;
• Be an investment in water, sewer, or broadband infrastructure.

The NLC’s website also provides specifics on what constitutes an “eligible use” of the funding. We’ll leave it to the reader to decide if the following list of CCG’s departmental requests meet those specific requirements for use of the Covid-19 relief funding.

Many of the city’s proposed uses of the funding appear to be more of a retrofit of anything-and-everything the city can “get away with,” with requested expenditures ranging from video game equipment, to new carpeting & wallpaper, to laptops, and even golf course improvements.

Here’s a complete itemized list of everything the Columbus Consolidated Government said they would like to purchase with the $40 million in Covid relief funds received from the American Rescue Plan:

• Community Reinvestment: $11,000,000

• Affordable Housing

• Information Technology: $4,870,000

• Upgraded IT Computer Lab
• Physical Security for CCG Network Infrastructure Venues
• Remotely Managed Uninterruptible Power Supplies for Critical Devices
• Back-Up Systems
• Security Appliance
• Fiber Splicer
• Switches
• Wi-Fi
• Laptops
• Multi-Factor Authentication
• Infrastructure Monitoring
• E-Sports Arena Equipment
• Generator Upgrades

• Fire/EMS: $7,360,026

• Fire Engine
• Ladder Truck, Quint
• Ladder Truck, Platform

• Golf Authority: $2,146,374

• Recover Economic Losses due to 45-day Closure / 50% Capacity for Period Ending Dec. 31, 2020
• Restore, Protect, and Enhance Water Infrastructure

• Civic Center: $1,035,000

• Mobile Outdoor Staging and Equipment
• E-Sports Arena Equipment
• Urban Hockey Program Initiative
• Playground
• Water Refill Stations
• GBAC Training and Certifications
• LED Wall Panels
• Enhanced Courtyard
• Urban Indoor Soccer Program Initiative
• Technological Lighting Upgrade

• Coroner: $46,437

• Body Bags
• Full-time Transport Driver
• 4-Body Oversized Cooler with Interior Rack, Model #4BX

• Police: $9,988,838

• Training Facility, 134' x 100'
• Fuses Real-Time Crime Center Platform
• NIBIN/IBIS
• Prisoner Processing Station
• Evidence Storage Room
• Criminal Intelligence & Gang Intelligence Office Expansion
• Ballistic Shields
• Level IIIA Armored Ballistic Helmets
• Level IIIA Armored Rifle Plates
• GETAC In-Car-Solutions
• "AFIX Face" Facial Recognition Software
• 911 Center Consoles
• Driveway Banker-Style Window
• Incinerator
• Motorola / Lexus Nexus Interface
• Vehicle Bay Painting and Floor Resurfacing
• Cubicle Replacement
• Door Addition
• Water Bottle Filling Stations
• Disinfecting Spray Refills
• Backup Center Consoles
• Drones
• Gun Buyback Program

• Public Works: $11,250,000

• Land Acquisition for Indigent Burials
• Reimbursement of Yard Waste Collections
• Fleet Management Expansion
• Compactors for the Uptown Business District for Solid Waste Collection
• Future Replacement Carts
• Buena Vista Road Facility Replacement
• HVAC Replacement Program
• Super Centers Roof Replacement
• Litter Equipment

• Homeland Security & Emergency Management: $850,000

• New Mobile Command Vehicle

• City Manager's Office: $700,000

• CCG-TV / Council Chambers Equipment Replacement ($500k)
• Family Connection: Neighborhood Leader/Navigator Program ($200k)

• Trade Center: $4,981,440.08

• Security System for the Facility
• Expansion of Wireless and Rewire/Update Any MDF or IDF (network cost locations)
• Replacement Carpet
• Replacement and Installation of 6 Chilled Water Pumps
• Air Handlers on Original Side of Building
• HVAC Rooftop Unit
• Professional Air Duct Cleaning
• UV Sanitation Kits for Air Handler Units
• Radio System Replacement
• Restroom Automated Light Controls
• Touchless Faucets
• Renovation of Passenger Elevator Interiors
• Restroom Automated Light Controls (repeated)
• Touchless Faucets (repeated)
• Renovation of Passenger Elevator Interiors (repeated)
• Restroom Hand Dryer HEPA Filter Kits
• Touchless Automatic Doors
• Replace Restroom Wallpaper with Paint
• Upgrade Pavid Generator
• Ride-on Vacuum

• Camera Program  (Phases 2 & 3): $4,839,134

• Revenue Recovery: $10,000,000

• GRAND TOTAL: $69,067,249

You can watch the full video of the public meeting held by CCG below:

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Residents can voice their opinions on how their city government is choosing to spend nearly $40 million of Covid relief funding by contacting their city council members.

Facts are stubborn things — and we’ll keep publishing them, whether city officials like them or not.

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