While many Ohio businesses, law enforcement departments and other sectors have been granted American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars by state government leaders, advocates of human services agencies and the arts industry are feeling left out.

“In other states, we are seeing them use important amounts of this money to actually provide for the major human needs that have not been addressed. So we need to make sure that the people who were hit hardest, who are being left behind, are in fact targeted for assistance,” Policy Matters Ohio Research Director Zach Schiller said during an Advocates for Ohio’s Future (AOF) press conference on Monday.

“We’ve so far spent a huge proportion of our funds to stabilize businesses. We need to spend the remaining funds on those who are most in need,” Schiller said. “The bailout of the unemployment trust fund accounted for 71 percent of Ohio’s spending. That compares with just 15 percent nationally, according to a recent study by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. … Only Texas has spent a greater amount, and only New Mexico and Kansas have spent a greater share of their ARPA dollars on the UC bailout, even if many states have done that to some degree.”

AOF Director Kelsey Bergfeld said Ohio has about $600 million in ARPA funds remaining from the first tranche, noting the federal government will send $2.7 billion more in the second tranche in mid-2022.

The General Assembly recently turned HB169 (Cutrona-Swearingen) into an ARPA spending bill and sent it to Gov. Mike DeWine’s desk. The governor signed ARPA spending bill HB168 (Fraizer) earlier this year. (See The Hannah Report, 12/9/21, 12/8/21, 12/7/21, 12/6/21, 6/29/21.)

“The General Assembly has appropriated more than $2 billion of Ohio’s flexible state funds through two different bills, HB168 and HB169. In both cases, a completely different bill that had already passed the House was stripped of those provisions in the Senate, with appropriation authority added in. The only public ‘hearings’ in each case were 10-minute Senate committee hearings with no opportunity for public testimony, in which details of the bill were described briefly,” Schiller said. “Basically, this means that the public had no part in this whatsoever. What we need is a far more transparent process in approving the remaining $3-plus billion in flexible state funding.”

Ohio Poverty Law Center Director Susan Jagers agreed, saying the General Assembly should create a special committee to consider the remaining ARPA dollars.

“Such a committee could assess where investments are most needed, gather input from the public, ensure coordination among funding streams and opportunities, and evaluate and monitor those investments,” Jagers said.

“Ohioans deserve a say in how the money is spent. This historic opportunity to invest in people, communities and infrastructure deserves a robust planning process, drawing on experts, state and community leaders and the people most harmed by the pandemic,” Jagers continued. “The spending of the state fiscal recovery funds should complement and support the ARPA’s other funding streams, maximize other federal and local resources and take a long-term view for recovery.”

Ohio Association of Foodbanks (OAF) Executive Director Lisa Hamler-Fugitt said she and other members of AOF sent a human services spending memo to the General Assembly and the DeWine administration in October, with OAF specifically seeking $183 million to address various needs. That memo can be viewed at www.hannah.com>Important Documents & Notices>Library.

“Our statewide network last year served 3.8 million households, more than at any time during our 30-year history, providing over 290 million pounds of food and groceries,” Hamler-Fugitt said. “Unfortunately, the number of Ohioans seeking assistance to meet their basic needs is continuing to grow. As low-wage earners, seniors and people on fixed incomes struggle to fight the effects of a persistent pandemic, and now the impact of rapidly rising costs of food, fuel, housing, utilities, medicine and the everyday costs of living that are being driven up by inflation and supply chain challenges, charitable giving alone cannot address these growing and widespread disparities.”

Hamler-Fugitt said the lack of action from Ohio policymakers “feels like a betrayal,” noting 22 other states have allocated ARPA dollars to support human services programs such as cash aid, housing, social services and food assistance. She pointed specifically to the states of Utah, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Arizona, Michigan, Connecticut, Colorado and Washington, saying they have invested hundreds of millions of dollars in human services.

“We are asking for a chance to present our case, and explain the real needs of our communities and those that are facing these unmet needs in our communities,” Hamler-Fugitt said. “There is still time to approach this process in a more transparent and responsive way. There is still time to treat these funds as vital catalysts for recovery and resilience in the months and years ahead. I urge the governor and leaders of the General Assembly to give impacted people like those we serve, and the impacted sectors like ours, a seat at the table as they make future decisions about how to invest these funds.”

Ohio Citizens for the Arts Executive Director Angela Meleca told Hannah News that she was disappointed that the General Assembly didn’t include her organization’s $50 million ARPA request in HB169, but is hopeful that SB234 (Lang) will pass in some form in the near future.

“As the highest unemployed sector in Ohio at over 20 percent, our arts and creative industry continues to limp along while remaining committed to serving their missions that are the backbone to creating strong and healthy communities,” Meleca said.

“We are thankful for state leaders who continue to meet with us and express their support and recognize the challenges our sector will face in the coming months. In most cases, the next fiscal year will be more challenging than the current one,” she continued. “Additional one-time ARPA funding is necessary to help our businesses bridge the gap as they navigate audience hesitancy to return to in-person events. Art and creative expression are at the core of humanity and thus human services. To neglect Ohio’s creatives would neglect economic recovery, development and prosperity.”