DETROIT (Michigan News Source) – When President Joe Biden enacted the American Rescue Plan Act in February 2021, it was to tackle the urgent public health and economic crises …” caused by COVID-19.

Yet, four years later when COVID-19 is now an afterthought, the city of Detroit still hasn’t spent 40% of the $826.1 million it received in federal ARPA funding.

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The city of Detroit recently released a report that tracked it spending of federal pandemic money.

The city has spent $495.5 million of the ARPA money as of Jan. 31, 2025. Of that $495.5 million, $78.9 million was spent on payroll and $416.6 million was spent on contractual services.

Just $29.3 million was spent in fiscal year 2022. There was $97.4 million spend FY 2023 and $245.5 million spent FY 2024. There has been $123.3 million spent FY 2025.

Municipalities had to determine how they would spend ARPA money by the end 2024. They have until the end of 2026 to actually spend the money.