County and city governments across New York are in line for a cash infusion from the newly passed, federal $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package, dubbed the American Rescue Plan. 

Onondaga County will get more than $89 million, Oneida County is set to receive over $44 million, and Broome County will be allocated nearly $37 million. 

Besides the counties, the bill will also provide relief funding for Upstate cities — the City of Auburn will receive about $22.2 million; Binghamton, $48.3 million; Ithaca, $17 million; Syracuse, $126.2 million; and Utica, $64 million, according to the office of U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D–N.Y.)

The measure includes $23.8 billion in state and local fiscal aid, including almost $12.6 billion for New York State’s government and over $10.8 billion for counties, cities, towns, and villages. Of that, $6.1 billion is for New York metro cities, $3.9 billion is for New York’s county governments, and $825 million flows to the state’s small cities, towns, and villages, per Schumer.

Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon said he’s “very pleased” that the federal government is providing counties financial help to recover from the pandemic. 

“The federal government told us to shut down our economy last March and April, as did the state of New York. When you do that, that’s a mandate. There’s economic hardships related to that,” McMahon said during his March 8 coronavirus briefing at the Oncenter. “The one large employer that really wasn’t helped was the one specifically doing the work on the front lines, and that’s [Onondaga County].” 

The federal funding will allow Onondaga County to “reactivate,” including continue responding to ongoing pandemic challenges, McMahon said. The cash infusion will also allow the county government to restart planned investments with a focus on helping people, addressing poverty, modernizing our infrastructure, and developing economic-development opportunities. 

“This [funding], and potentially what the state [provides], allows us to continue to end this pandemic and respond to it, shore up operations that are having challenges, and then reactivate planned investments that we’ve already had,” said McMahon. 

“After a long and trying year, help is coming for the people of Syracuse. I thank President Biden for delivering on his promise to provide comprehensive relief to Americans,” Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh said in a March 11 statement. “New York State played an important role in making this aid a reality, in particular, through the drive and determination of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and the steady support of Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. City government is already working to ensure the funding coming to Syracuse is used to address the devastating impacts of the pandemic; to help people get back on their feet; and to speed our recovery. We will engage with the Common Council and the community to make sure all voices have an opportunity to be heard at this historic and transformational moment for the City.”

Madison County is expected to receive $13.76 million in funding from the federal government in the American Rescue Plan. 

“On behalf of the Madison County Board of Supervisors and the residents of Madison County, I would like to thank Majority Leader Schumer for his steadfast support of counties and delivering much needed aid during these difficult times caused by the COVID 19 pandemic,” said John Becker, chairman of the Madison County Board of Supervisors. “The ‘American Rescue Plan’ recognizes that the local governments have been at the frontline of this public health crisis. The financial support will help us rebuild our community and make it stronger than ever.”

The American Rescue Plan’s injection of funding for cash-strapped localities can be used to pay for essential services, retain vital frontline workers, and offset lost revenues and help cover increased costs from the COVID-19 emergency.