In the coming weeks, Newtown and the Borough of Newtown will be getting down to business finalizing how its leaders will allocate funds from the American Rescue Plan, more commonly referred to as the ARP.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress designated ARP funding for grants, contracts, and other agency activities that identify and address — through a range of local initiatives — disproportionate environmental or public health harms and risks in underserved communities.

The Connecticut Conference of Municipalities reported that among that total federal distribution, Connecticut towns and cities were anticipated to receive $2.55 billion statewide — $1.56 billion to general government and $995 million to schools.

From that, the municipality of Newtown received $7.67 million, while the Borough of Newtown — considered a separate municipality in relation to the distribution of funds — received an additional $274,000.

Since late last year, Newtown and Borough officials have been deliberating and weighing how to distribute and utilize this one-time windfall to best serve residents, without necessarily creating initiatives or programs that will require further (or substantial) taxpayer underwriting once the initial ARP funds are expended.

In mid-December, leaders in the Borough began considering allocating its funds for improvements and projects involving Hawley School and Newtown Middle School. More recently, Newtown Historical Society has also come under consideration for some of that borough ARP funding.

A punch list of public safety items totaling about $16,000 requested by Newtown Hook & Ladder, and $5,650 requested by C.H. Booth Library have also been recently approved. While the borough’s ARP funds are being distributed by its Board of Burgesses, Newtown created a six-person workgroup composed of members from the Legislative Council, Board of Finance, and Board of Selectmen to consider, discuss, and recommend allocations.

After quickly deciding to shift $2.5 million to offset bonding for HVAC improvements at Hawley School — separate from any borough allocation — the work group has passed on a number of suggestions now winding their way through the requisite elected panels.

Earlier this month, the Legislative Council received its first report on those suggestions, which include: $1.5 million for a water distribution system at Fairfield Hills; $140,000 for a roof replacement on the multi-purpose building that houses The Children’s Adventure Center; $15,000 grants for each of the town’s five fire companies (again, separate of any borough allocations); Newtown Underwater Search And Rescue (NUSAR), and Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps.

Additional considerations include $325,000 to reimburse the town’s self-paid medical insurance, $50,000 for fire suppression tank repairs, and $40,000 to reimburse for COVID expenses. Newtown Community Center has more recently requested $155,000 for a patio project, $75,000 for a storage shed, $75,000 for a generator, and $200,000 toward a recreational outdoor “splash pad.”

While all the requests that have been defined, recommended, and in some cases, already approved, appear to create positive community benefits, we encourage the decision-makers to continue moving cautiously and thoughtfully as they begin untying their ARP purse strings. We also encourage community members to weigh in during public participation sessions with the council if they have other, better ideas about where this shared public windfall should be spent.