BY PAUL MITCHELL
North Country This Week

CANTON -- Members of both the town and village boards will begin taking a more serious look at how each respective municipality plans to spend their American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.

The town received $432,898 while the village was allocated $663,545.

It was noted Wednesday night at a joint meeting that the town and village have each received one half of the funding, or $216,449 and $331,772.50 respectively. The remaining 50 percent in funding will be delivered no earlier than one year later.

Mayor Michael Dalton reiterated that finding a secondary water source is “high priority” for the village.

“Infrastructure and water is very high on our priority list,” he said.

There was a brief conversation about town and village representatives working together to formulate a priorities list. But in the end, both sides said it made sense to prioritize on their own then come together.

Both entities have five years to spend the ARPA funds and three years to commit to fundable projects.

“We are allowed permitted expenses and need to justify how we spend it,” said Trustee Carol Pynchon.

Councilman Bob Washo said the town needs to take aim at lost revenues incurred during COVID-19 pandemic.

“First and foremost we need to look at recouping all lost revenues,” Washo remarked

Over the next three months each board is expected to begin exploring and compiling priority lists and share their findings and a joint meeting slated Oct. 27.

ARPA provides funding to help states, counties, cities and tribal governments cover increased expenditures, replenish lost revenues and mitigate economic harm from the pandemic.