$120M In Relief Money Recommendations Presented In Cobb: See The Suggestions

COBB COUNTY, GA — Mental health care, housing assistance, substance abuse prevention, public health disparities, and stormwater improvements are among the recommendations for the next round of coronavirus relief money, consultants told Cobb commissioners Tuesday.

Cobb County is slated to receive the next half of its American Rescue Plan Act money in May, after receiving the first half of the $147 million allocation last year. Commissioners hired consultants from DeLoitte to help identify areas in need of help, the Marietta Daily Journal reported.

DeLoitte consultants recommended five areas for spending: community health, support services, economic development, county infrastructure and public safety.

Related:

• Input Sought For $147M American Rescue Plan Spending In Cobb
• Cobb County To Receive $147.42M From COVID-19 Relief Bill

Cobb County has already spent more than $7 million on "exigent" items, the MDJ reported, another $10 million for administrative fees and $10 million for reserves — leaving $120 million to be divided among the five recommended areas.

The recommendations are a general guideline for the county, while commissioners and the community can decide specific projects and spending. The board will vote in April on adoption of the plan with more detailed project lists.

According to county documents, consultants recommended dividing the $120 million nearly evenly across all five categories, with line item spending under each broad category.

For community health, consultants recommended the $25.7 million allocation be spent as follows:

• Mental health: $12.1 million
• Public health disparities: $7.6 million
• Substance abuse: $3.6 million
• Health care capacity: $2.13 million
• COVID-19 mitigation: $310,000

Under support services, consultants recommend the $23.4 million allocation be spent as follows:

• Affordable housing: $13.8 million
• Homelessness: $4.6 million
• Rental & mortgage: $2.7 million
• Food security: $2.25 million

Under economic development, consultants recommended the $22.4 million allocation be spent as follows:

• Workforce development: $12.3 million
• Small & minority-owned businesses: $5.8 million
• Employee retention: $2.8 million
• Hospitality & tourism: $1.5 million

Under county infrastructure, consultants recommended the $19.3 million allocation be spent as follows:

• County facilities: $7.3 million
• Stormwater: $7.1 million
• Broadband/digital equity: $4.9 million

Under public safety, consultants recommended the $17.2 million allocation be spent as follows:

• Mental health response: $8.12 million
• Court backlog: $3.7 million
• Public safety hiring, retention & staffing: $3.36 million
• First response: $2.05 million