Coronavirus

Take a Breath and Start Planning: Alabama Cities, Counties Getting Millions in Federal Aid

President Biden signs federal stimulus bill. Source: White House

Alabama’s counties and municipalities will soon receive millions of dollars — some tens of millions of dollars — under the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act approved last week.

While exact guidance and rules for spending haven’t yet been issued from the U.S. Department of Treasury, the act makes clear the money can be used beyond costs specific to the coronavirus pandemic.

“We’re telling them to take a breath and to begin thinking about how to best use this opportunity for legacy-type programs,” Greg Cochran, executive director of the Alabama League of Municipalities, told Alabama Daily News about the group’s guidance to cities and towns.

The act includes nearly $360 billion to help states, counties and cities. Alabama is getting $4.04 billion of that. About $951 million will go to counties and $779 million to municipalities.

Large City Allocation Projections

Name Allocation in millions
Anniston $13.81
Auburn $16.10
Bessemer $14.72
Birmingham $148.82
Decatur $12.04
Dothan $12.53
Florence $8.17
Gadsden $26.35
Huntsville $35.11
Mobile $60.21
Montgomery $42.14
Opelika $6.78
Tuscaloosa $20.52

According to the National Conference on State Legislatures, local governments can use the new money to:

  • Address the pandemic’s economic effects, including aid to households, small businesses, nonprofits, and industries such as tourism and hospitality;
  • Provide premium pay to essential employees or grants to their employers;
  • Provide government services affected by a revenue reduction resulting from COVID-19, and;
  • Make investments in water, sewer and broadband infrastructure.

There are things the new money can’t be used for, including funding pensions or to offset revenue resulting from a tax cut enacted since March 3.

Sonny Brasfield, executive director of the Association of County Commissions of Alabama, said his organization is working to help counties plan to spend and account for the dollars.

There are also conversations happening about some possible constitutional issues regarding the federal dollars, Brasfield said.

While the act does say the money allocated to local governments can be distributed to households and businesses, that is raising an issue here.

“In Alabama, the constitution won’t let us do that,” Brasfield said.

Section 94 of Alabama’s constitution says “the Legislature shall not have power to authorize any county, city, town, or other subdivision of this state to lend its credit, or to grant public money or thing of value in aid of, or to any individual, association. . ..”

In April of last year, the Alabama attorney general cited Section 94 in an opinion that said counties and municipalities could not give grants or loans to small businesses hurt by the pandemic unless they money would “serve a public purpose rather than merely confer a private benefit.”

There are conversations happening now in Montgomery about exactly what that means for the federal relief money.

“Counties can’t just give money to people, so that’s going to require some more strategic thinking,” Brasfield said. “How do we use this money in a way that can change the county going forward?

“… I think the same goals can be reached — restoring and revising the community — we’re just going to have to be strategic about it.”

County Allocation Projections

Name Allocation in millions
Autauga County 10.84
Baldwin County 43.29
Barbour County 4.79
Bibb County 4.34
Blount County 11.21
Bullock County 1.96
Butler County 3.77
Calhoun County 22.03
Chambers County 6.45
Cherokee County 5.08
Chilton County 8.62
Choctaw County 2.44
Clarke County 4.58
Clay County 2.57
Cleburne County 2.89
Coffee County 10.15
Colbert County 10.71
Conecuh County 2.34
Coosa County 2.07
Covington County 7.19
Crenshaw County 2.67
Cullman County 16.25
Dale County 9.54
Dallas County 7.21
DeKalb County 13.87
Elmore County 15.75
Escambia County 7.10
Etowah County 19.83
Fayette County 3.16
Franklin County 6.08
Geneva County 5.10
Greene County 1.57
Hale County 2.84
Henry County 3.34
Houston County 20.54
Jackson County 10.01
Jefferson County 127.73
Lamar County 2.68
Lauderdale County 17.98
Lawrence County 6.39
Lee County 31.91
Limestone County 19.18
Lowndes County 1.89
Macon County 3.50
Madison County 72.32
Marengo County 3.66
Marion County 5.76
Marshall County 18.77
Mobile County 80.14
Monroe County 4.02
Montgomery County 43.93
Morgan County 23.21
Perry County 1.73
Pickens County 3.87
Pike County 6.42
Randolph County 4.41
Russell County 11.24
St. Clair County 17.36
Shelby County 42.22
Sumter County 2.41
Talladega County 15.51
Tallapoosa County 7.83
Tuscaloosa County 40.60
Walker County 12.32
Washington County 3.17
Wilcox County 2.01
Winston County 4.58

In an email to members, the league said municipalities with more than 50,000 population will receive funds through the U.S. Treasury. Those under 50,000 will receive funds through the Alabama Department of Finance.

The league said 50% of a municipalities’ money should arrive within 60 days. The rest will come one year later, at the earliest. This will give communities time to plan, Cochran said.

Money must be spent by the end of 2024.

Cochran said this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for communities, especially rural ones, to make significant infrastructure upgrades.

Cochran noted that the act separately provides millions of dollars to education institutions, restaurants, entertainment venues, agriculture and rural health care in addition to the $4.04 billion coming to Alabama governments.

Small City Allocation Projections

Name Allocation in millions
Abbeville city 0.47
Adamsville city 0.79
Addison town 0.13
Akron town 0.06
Alabaster city 6.21
Albertville city
Albertville city 4.02
Alexander City city 2.65
Aliceville city 0.42
Allgood town 0.12
Altoona town 0.17
Andalusia city 1.61
Anderson town 0.05
Arab city 1.55
Ardmore town 0.27
Argo town 0.81
Ariton town 0.14
Arley town 0.06
Ashford town 0.40
Ashland town 0.35
Ashville city 0.44
Athens city 5.07
Atmore city 1.69
Attalla city 1.07
Autaugaville town 0.16
Avon town 0.09
Babbie town 0.11
Baileyton town 0.11
Bakerhill town 0.05
Banks town 0.03
Bay Minette city 1.73
Bayou La Batre city 0.46
Bear Creek town 0.20
Beatrice town 0.05
Beaverton town 0.03
Belk town 0.04
Benton town 0.01
Berlin town 0.09
Berry town 0.20
Billingsley town 0.03
Black town 0.04
Blountsville town 0.31
Blue Springs town 0.02
Boaz city 1.80
Boligee town 0.05
Bon Air town 0.02
Brantley town 0.14
Brent city 0.88
Brewton city 0.97
Bridgeport city 0.43
Brighton city 0.51
Brilliant town 0.16
Brookside town 0.25
Brookwood town 0.34
Brundidge city 0.35
Butler town 0.32
Calera city 2.73
Camden city 0.33
Camp Hill town 0.18
Carbon Hill city 0.35
Cardiff town 0.01
Carolina town 0.05
Carrollton town 0.17
Castleberry town 0.10
Cedar Bluff town 0.34
Center Point city 2.99
Centre city 0.66
Centreville city 0.48
Chatom town 0.22
Chelsea city 2.62
Cherokee town 0.19
Chickasaw city 1.06
Childersburg city 0.90
Citronelle city 0.72
Clanton city 1.63
Clay city 1.84
Clayhatchee town 0.11
Clayton town 0.53
Cleveland town 0.24
Clio city 0.24
Coaling town 0.31
Coffee Springs town 0.04
Coffeeville town 0.06
Coker town 0.18
Collinsville town 0.37
Colony town 0.05
Columbia town 0.14
Columbiana city 0.84
Coosada town 0.24
Cordova city 0.34
Cottonwood town 0.23
County Line town 0.05
Courtland town 0.11
Cowarts town 0.39
Creola city 0.38
Crossville town 0.34
Cuba town 0.05
Cullman city 2.97
Cusseta town 0.02
Dadeville city 0.57
Daleville city 0.95
Daphne city 4.98
Dauphin Island town 0.25
Daviston town 0.04
Dayton town 0.01
Deatsville town 0.23
Demopolis city 1.23
Detroit town 0.04
Dodge City town 0.12
Dora city 0.35
Double Springs town 0.20
Douglas town 0.14
Dozier town 0.06
Dutton town 0.06
East Brewton city 0.44
Eclectic town 0.19
Edwardsville town 0.04
Elba city 0.71
Elberta town 0.32
Eldridge town 0.02
Elkmont town 0.09
Elmore town 0.25
Emelle town 0.01
Enterprise city 5.26
Epes town 0.06
Ethelsville town 0.01
Eufaula city 2.17
Eutaw town 0.48
Eva town 0.09
Evergreen city 0.65
Excel town 0.12
Fairfield city 1.96
Fairhope city 4.20
Fairview town 0.09
Falkville town 0.23
Faunsdale town 0.02
Fayette city 0.79
Five Points town 0.03
Flomaton town 0.26
Florala town 0.35
Foley city 3.78
Forkland town 0.11
Fort Deposit town 0.21
Fort Payne city 2.61
Franklin town 0.09
Frisco City town 0.21
Fruithurst town 0.05
Fulton town 0.05
Fultondale city 1.72
Fyffe town 0.19
Gainesville town 0.03
Gantt town 0.04
Garden City town 0.09
Gardendale city 2.63
Gaylesville town 0.03
Geiger town 0.03
Geneva city 0.80
Georgiana town 0.30
Geraldine town 0.17
Gilbertown town 0.04
Glen Allen town 0.09
Glencoe city 0.94
Glenwood town 0.03
Goldville town 0.01
Good Hope city 0.44
Goodwater town 0.24
Gordo town 0.30
Gordon town 0.06
Gordonville town 0.05
Goshen town 0.05
Grant town 0.17
Graysville city 0.39
Greensboro city 0.42
Greenville city 1.37
Grimes town 0.10
Grove Hill town 0.32
Gu-Win town 0.03
Guin city 0.42
Gulf Shores city 2.36
Guntersville city 1.59
Gurley town 0.15
Hackleburg town 0.23
Haleburg town 0.02
Haleyville city 0.77
Hamilton city 1.22
Hammondville town 0.09
Hanceville city 0.64
Harpersville town 0.32
Hartford city 0.48
Hartselle city 2.68
Hayden town 0.25
Hayneville town 0.15
Headland city 0.87
Heath town 0.05
Heflin city 0.63
Helena city 3.69
Henagar city 0.44
Highland Lake town 0.08
Hillsboro town 0.10
Hobson City town 0.14
Hodges town 0.05
Hokes Bluff city 0.79
Holly Pond town 0.15
Hollywood town 0.18
Homewood city 4.70
Hoover city 15.90
Horn Hill town 0.04
Hueytown city 2.84
Hurtsboro town 0.11
Hytop town 0.08
Ider town 0.13
Indian Springs Village city 0.47
Irondale city 2.39
Jackson city 0.86
Jacksons’ Gap town 0.15
Jacksonville city 2.33
Jasper city 2.49
Jemison city 0.50
Kansas town 0.04
Kellyton town 0.04
Kennedy town 0.08
Killen town 0.18
Kimberly city 0.67
Kinsey town 0.42
Kinston town 0.10
La Fayette city 0.54
Lake View town 0.50
Lakeview town 0.03
Lanett city 1.14
Langston town 0.05
Leeds city 2.23
Leesburg town 0.19
Leighton town 0.14
Lester town 0.02
Level Plains town 0.37
Lexington town 0.13
Libertyville town 0.02
Lincoln city 1.26
Linden city 0.35
Lineville city 0.42
Lipscomb city 0.40
Lisman town 0.09
Littleville town 0.18
Livingston city 0.60
Loachapoka town 0.04
Lockhart town 0.09
Locust Fork town 0.22
Louisville town 0.09
Lowndesboro town 0.02
Loxley town 0.57
Luverne city 0.51
Lynn town 0.12
Madison city 9.56
Madrid town 0.05
Magnolia Springs town 0.15
Malvern town 0.27
Maplesville town 0.13
Margaret town 0.95
Marion city 0.58
Maytown town 0.07
McIntosh town 0.04
McKenzie town 0.09
McMullen town 0.00
Memphis town 0.00
Mentone town 0.07
Midfield city 0.93
Midland City town 0.44
Midway town 0.09
Millbrook city 2.95
Millport town 0.18
Millry town 0.09
Monroeville city 1.06
Montevallo city 1.25
Montgomery city 36.80
Moody city 2.42
Mooresville town 0.01
Morris town 0.40
Mosses town 0.16
Moulton city 0.60
Moundville town 0.46
Mount Vernon town 0.28
Mountain Brook city 3.76
Mulga town 0.15
Munford town 0.25
Muscle Shoals city 2.70
Myrtlewood town 0.02
Napier Field town 0.06
Natural Bridge town 0.01
Nauvoo town 0.04
Nectar town 0.06
Needham town 0.02
New Brockton town 0.23
New Hope city 0.54
New Site town 0.14
Newbern town 0.03
Newton town 0.27
Newville town 0.09
North Courtland town 0.11
North Johns town 0.03
Northport city 4.84
Notasulga town 0.15
Oak Grove town 0.10
Oak Hill town 0.00
Oakman town 0.13
Odenville town 0.72
Ohatchee town 0.21
Oneonta city 1.22
Onycha town 0.03
Opp city 1.18
Orange Beach city 1.16
Orrville town 0.03
Owens Cross Roads town 0.39
Oxford city 3.93
Ozark city 2.65
Paint Rock town 0.04
Parrish town 0.17
Pelham city 4.43
Pell City city 2.60
Pennington town 0.04
Perdido Beach town 0.12
Petrey town 0.01
Phenix City city 6.76
Phil Campbell town 0.20
Pickensville town 0.11
Piedmont city 0.84
Pike Road town 1.88
Pinckard town 0.12
Pine Apple town 0.02
Pine Hill town 0.16
Pine Ridge town 0.05
Pinson city 1.32
Pisgah town 0.13
Pleasant Grove city 1.78
Pleasant Groves town 0.07
Pollard town 0.03
Powell town 0.18
Prattville city 6.67
Priceville town 0.70
Prichard city 3.97
Providence town 0.04
Ragland town 0.32
Rainbow City city 1.78
Rainsville city 0.95
Ranburne town 0.07
Red Bay city 0.57
Red Level town 0.09
Reece City town 0.12
Reform town 0.29
Rehobeth town 0.31
Repton town 0.05
Ridgeville town 0.02
River Falls town 0.10
Riverside city 0.44
Riverview town 0.03
Roanoke city 1.10
Robertsdale city 1.26
Rockford town 0.08
Rogersville town 0.23
Rosa town 0.06
Russellville city 1.81
Rutledge town 0.08
Samson city 0.34
Sand Rock town 0.11
Sanford town 0.05
Saraland city 2.72
Sardis City town 0.33
Satsuma city 1.15
Scottsboro city 2.68
Section town 0.14
Selma city 3.19
Semmes city 1.04
Sheffield city 1.65
Shiloh town 0.05
Shorter town 0.07
Silas town 0.08
Silverhill town 0.22
Sipsey town 0.07
Skyline town 0.16
Slocomb city 0.35
Smiths Station city 1.00
Snead town 0.16
Somerville town 0.14
South Vinemont town 0.14
Southside city 1.65
Spanish Fort city 1.71
Springville city 0.80
St. Florian town 0.12
Steele town 0.20
Stevenson city 0.36
Sulligent city 0.34
Sumiton city 0.43
Summerdale town 0.31
Susan Moore town 0.14
Sweet Water town 0.05
Sylacauga city 2.23
Sylvan Springs town 0.28
Sylvania town 0.35
Talladega Springs town 0.03
Talladega city 2.87
Tallassee city 0.83
Tarrant city 1.13
Taylor town 0.45
Thomaston town 0.07
Thomasville city 0.71
Thorsby town 0.38
Town Creek town 0.19
Toxey town 0.02
Trafford town 0.11
Triana town 0.18
Trinity town 0.46
Troy city 3.51
Trussville city 4.20
Tuscumbia city 1.57
Tuskegee city 1.51
Twin town 0.07
Union Grove town 0.01
Union Springs city 0.63
Union town 0.04
Uniontown town 0.41
Valley Grande city 0.66
Valley Head town 0.10
Valley city 1.69
Vance town 0.31
Vernon city 0.34
Vestavia Hills city 6.38
Vina town 0.07
Vincent town 0.41
Vredenburgh town 0.05
Wadley town 0.13
Waldo town 0.05
Walnut Grove town 0.13
Warrior city 0.60
Waterloo town 0.04
Waverly town 0.03
Weaver city 0.57
Webb town 0.27
Wedowee town 0.15
West Blocton town 0.23
West Jefferson town 0.08
West Point town 0.11
Westover town 0.32
Wetumpka city 1.55
White Hall town 0.14
Wilsonville town 0.38
Wilton town 0.13
Winfield city 0.84
Woodland town 0.03
Woodstock town 0.30
Woodville town 0.13
Yellow Bluff town 0.04
York City 0.42