EASTON, Pa. — Easton City Council on Wednesday introduced an updated expense budget that finalizes more than a half-million dollars earmarked for a sanitary project on Ferry Street.
In an ordinance introduced by Vice Mayor Ken Brown, council put its stamp of approval on a $571,875.40 ARPA line item that will go toward updates and repairs for Ferry Street’s sanitary sewer line.
Also, $27,501.50 will go toward elevator repairs at the Fourth Street garage.
Among other allocations for community projects, the city’s 2025 ARPA budget currently lists a total of $5,071,937.79.
"So I would credit the ARPA stimulus money that came in as a reason for the city to maintain stability and move forward into our current year, current environment right now.”Easton City Administrator Luis Campos
City Administrator Luis Campos said the ordinance was an administrative task, as expenditures had been approved last year, with an updated, final expense budget submitted in March.
“There's some updates that need to be done to the sanitary sewer line on Ferry Street, and it's a main line that that needs to be updated and repaired, and that's going to be occurring in the next week or so,” Campos said.
“And the other one, it was part of the elevator system in the Fourth Street garage that needed some improvements, or else it could jeopardize the functionality of the elevator, which would hurt the city, because parking is a hot commodity right now.”
Easton and ARPA
Easton has been diligent in the strategic use of ARPA funding since its dispersal. Campos said that without ARPA, “the city of Easton would be struggling right now.”
“Significantly, the city, unlike other municipalities, can't depend on just real estate taxes or earned income tax," he said.
"The city depends on multiple taxes that are directly related to the market, for instance, like the admissions tax.
"I would credit the ARPA stimulus money that came in as a reason for the city to maintain stability and move forward into our current year, current environment right now.”Easton City Administrator Luis Campos
"So when the city experienced COVID, we lost almost 10 percent of our total revenue. It was significant. It was a huge blow.
"So I would credit the ARPA stimulus money that came in as a reason for the city to maintain stability and move forward into our current year, current environment right now.”
The coronavirus pandemic had sizable impacts on the city, stifling a population goal that aimed to hit 30,000 residents, shuttering businesses and putting many residents out of work.
In his 2020 State of the City address, Mayor Sal Panto Jr. called attention to the crippling effect of the pandemic.
“Make no mistake, we continue to battle the global challenges we face, namely the public health crisis precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic fallout that the novel coronavirus has placed on our economy,” Panto said in the address.
“It seemed like one day I was invited to the White House briefing for mayors about this thing called COVID with then-Vice-President Pence, and the next week, society and our economy came to a halt.
"Suddenly, COVID was threatening the lives of the most vulnerable in our society, throwing millions out of work, shuttering schools and businesses.”
'Manage extra carefully'
Easton got $20.7 million in federal funding via the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act, which was allocated throughout the years since on community improvements.
In Sept. 2022, $3.9 million was used to launch the city’s Affordable Housing Program. Further funding went to organizations like the Third Street Alliance, the YMCA, small business assistance for the Winter Village, and more.
Easton was able to utilize ARPA funds to keep tax rates stable for residents up to the 2025 budget, officials said.
“In the following years, we’re going to have to continue to manage extra carefully,” Campos said.
