Time is running out for local governments to use billions of dollars of federal pandemic relief funds. The American Rescue Plan passed by Congress in 2021 provided $350 billion to states, counties, cities and other governments. They must obligate the money for specific purposes by the end of this year or give the rest back. Data from the U.S. Treasury Department shows that 80% of the funds nationally had been allocated as of this spring. But some governments have made more progress than others. An Associated Press analysis found that about 3,500 local governments reported obligating less than 25% of their funds.
