Schuylkill County Commissioners voted to use more than $2 million of the American Rescue Plan money and deposit into the general fund.

At Wednesday’s meeting, they approved a supplemental budget appropriation resolution for about $2 million to go for expenses. Finance Director Paul Buber said the costs were incurred during the pandemic, something County Administrator Gary Bender agreed with.

The county previously hired Susquehanna Consulting and Solutions Inc. of Harrisburg for consulting on the ARP funds. The county has received about $13 million of the $27,415,708 from the federal government. The final rules are not out by the treasury, so the county is operating under the interim rules.

Mark Morgan, director of Susquehanna Consulting and Solutions Inc., said last week the county consulted him about the allowable expenses. He did not recall what department the expenses were the county sought reimbursement for. He last spoke to a county employee about the topic two weeks ago.

“They can pick and choose one of the general government expenses,” he said.

The federal government has a “lost revenue calculation” in determining permitted reimbursement costs. For example, the lost revenue for 2021 is based off lost revenue incurred in 2020. Regulations allow eligible entities to claim the following year, Morgan said. This year the county can claim from March 3 to the end of 2021, he said.

Treasurer Linda Marchalk was not available Monday to say what the reimbursement specifically was for. Commissioners’ Chairman Barron “Boots” Hetherington said it was for allowable costs.

Morgan said funds from the ARP must be designated by Dec. 31, 2024. All money must be spent by 2026. Final treasury regulations are possible by Dec. 31 or the first quarter of 2022.