Change in utility assistance due to loss of ARPA funding
The American Rescue Plan Act, ARPA, is a federal program that launched in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Columbia utilized some of its ARPA funding to help low-income residents with utility bills. Starting in fiscal year 2025, the city replaced the ARPA funding with money from the general fund.
The stacked bar chart, shows the amount of funding Columbia's utility assistance received from varied locations. After ARPA funding was finished in FY 2024, the city moved to using it's general fund for funding the utility assistance program.
