Demorest’s $441,071 ARPA Question Remains: Where Did the Money Go?

Demorest officials identified $441,070.97 in remaining American Rescue Plan Act money during a March 23, 2024 City Council retreat, but the signed retreat minutes do not show that the city selected a project, approved a spending plan or made a payment from that balance. The discussion came with a stated need to identify uses by April 2024 and spend the money by 2026, leaving a significant unanswered question now that the described spending deadline has passed.