ARPA spending nears completion; county resolving solar tax‑credit legal review

Summary

County staff said about $1 million remains in ARPA funds, mainly for a solar project plus wastewater, geothermal and nursing‑home ventilation work. Finance/legal teams are reviewing solar tax‑credit issues and expect to resolve whether the county must incur catch‑up costs or can proceed without added expense.

County finance staff reported that about $1,000,000 remains in ARPA funds, most of it tied to a solar project and four smaller projects including wastewater treatment upgrades, a geothermal project, and laundry‑ventilation work at the nursing home. Staff said most ARPA money should be expended by year’s end and that county rules allow spending contracted funds through the end of next year. On the solar project, county staff have sought advice from a solar tax advisor and the county attorney to determine whether tax credits affect the contracting or require additional payments; two possible paths were described: proceeding in a way that would not cost the county, or taking an approach that would require catch‑up costs. The board was told staff are continuing legal and financial review and will move forward once advice on tax credits is received.