50949_WKBW_7_Problem_Solvers_658x90.png

Actions

Erie, Niagara Counties could receive nearly $800 million as part of the American Rescue Plan

Capitol Hill Capitol Building Capitol Dome
Posted
and last updated

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Erie and Niagara counties could receive nearly $800 million as part of the American Rescue Plan.

In a release sent to 7 Eyewitness News, Congressman Brian Higgins' office said President Joe Biden's proposed $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package includes more that $792 million earmarked for communities in both Erie and Niagara Counties.

“Over the last year, our communities have borne the brunt of costs and duties associated with responding to the pandemic and this work continues today,” said Congressman Higgins. “It is the responsibility of the federal government to provide states and regions with disaster relief during times of national emergency.”

According to new data from the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, about $324 million would go directly to the City of Buffalo, and $55 million would go to Niagara Falls. Erie and Niagara's county governments would receive $180 million and $41 million directly, respectively.

Congressman Higgins' office says the federal funding would help homeowners and small business owners avoid having to worry about substantial property tax hikes, among other local tax and fee increases that could result from the financial losses local municipalities have suffered from the pandemic.

New York State currently faces a nearly $15 billion shortfall in its budget, and according to Higgins, funds set aside in the American Rescue Plan for the state would almost offset that deficit.

Of the $350 billion being allocated to state and local governments in the bill, $12.665 billion would go directly to the state. An additional $10.64 billion would go to local municipalities around New York state.

Below is a full breakdown of where that money would go in Erie and Niagara Counties:

MunicipalityFederal Aid - No OverlapFederal Aid - All Overlap
Niagara County$41,000,000$41,000,000
City of Niagara Falls$55,000,000$55,000,000
City of North Tonawanda$5,612,122$6,746,036
City of Lockport$3,775,784$4,538,671
Town of Cambria$1,064,145$1,279,153
Town of Hartland$738,748$888,010
Town of Lewiston$2,922,657$3,513,172
Town of Lockport$3,709,633$4,459,154
Town of Newfane$1,724,362$2,072,765
Town of Niagara$1,479,160$1,778,020
Town of Pendleton$1,254,653$1,508,152
Town of Porter$1,209,197$1,453,512
Town of Royalton$1,387,879$1,668,296
Town of Somerset$472,666$568,167
Town of Wheatfield$3,347,835$4,024,255
Town of Wilson$1,070,058$1,286,260
Village of Barker$93,868$112,834
Village of Lewiston$475,438$571,498
Village of Middleport$324,288$389,809
Village of Wilson$225,061$270,534
Village of Youngstown$349,048$419,573
TOTAL NIAGARA COUNTY$127,236,602$133,547,871
Erie County$180,000,000$180,000,000
City of Buffalo$324,000,000$324,000,000
Town of Amherst$14,000,000$14,000,000
Town of Cheektowaga$24,000,000$24,000,000
Town of Hamburg$10,000,000$10,000,000
Town of Tonawanda$39,000,000$39,000,000
City of Tonawanda$2,734,367$3,286,838
City of Lackawanna$3,283,162$3,946,516
Town of Grand Island$3,934,694$4,729,688
Town of West Seneca$8,375,130$10,067,302
Village of Sloan$656,706$789,392
Village of Depew$2,781,670$3,343,699
Village of Williamsville$967,321$1,162,765
Village of Kenmore$2,785,735$3,348,586
Village of Akron$60,977$73,298
Town of Alden$1,838,371$2,209,809
Village of Alden$473,775$569,499
Village of Angola$389,330$467,993
Town of Aurora$2,547,555$3,062,281
Village of Blasdell$490,774$589,934
Town of Boston$1,488,768$1,789,570
Town of Brant$379,907$456,666
Town of Clarence$6,031,387$7,250,012
Town of Colden$615,870$740,305
Town of Collins$1,193,306$1,434,410
Town of Concord$1,565,821$1,882,191
Village of East Aurora$1,145,078$1,376,438
Town of Eden$1,409,683$1,694,505
Town of Elma$2,171,344$2,610,058
Town of Evans$2,983,265$3,586,025
Village of Gowanda$478,394$575,052
Village of Hamburg$1,790,698$2,152,503
Town of Holland$619,381$744,525
Town of Lancaster$7,995,408$9,610,858
Village of Lancaster$1,869,599$2,247,346
Town of Marilla$995,038$1,196,082
Town of Newstead$1,606,842$1,931,500
Town of North Collins$644,326$774,510
Village of North Collins$221,920$266,759
Town of Orchard Park$5,458,016$6,560,793
Village of Orchard Park$580,392$697,659
Town of Sardinia$514,796$618,809
Village of Springville$790,671$950,424
Town of Wales$555,632$667,896
TOTAL ERIE COUNTY$665,425,109$680,462,496
Erie & Niagara Counties Combined$792,661,711$814,010,367

The president's proposed relief bill still has yet to pass in Congress. It has been held up in the Senate amid staunch criticism over a proposed third round of direct stimulus checks for Americans. You can read more about the bill and where it stands here.