Ohio’s 1,308 Townships May Not Be Guaranteed Direct Funding from the American Rescue Plan
At the local, state and federal levels, there are conflicting reports on whether Ohio townships will directly receive funds from the American Rescue Plan (HR 1319), due to changes made between the House and Senate versions of the legislation. The bill allocates $350 billion to states and local governments, and was recently passed by Congress and signed by President Biden.
The Ohio Township Association (OTA) is working around the clock with Ohio’s Congressional delegation and the Biden Administration to ensure that the U.S. Treasury interprets Ohio’s 1,308 townships as eligible nonentitlement units of local government for this critical funding. According to the 2010 Census, at least four million Ohioans reside in a township; relief funds are crucial to helping those communities recover from the effects of the pandemic.
The OTA appreciates the efforts of its state and federal partners, and all who are working to guarantee that Ohio townships will receive HR 1319 funding. More information will be provided from the OTA as new developments take place.