City projects and additional staffing that were added into the city budget using federal pandemic funding — money from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) — will cost the city almost $1.9 million in its upcoming fiscal year, according to a March 24 presentation to the city council. (Hyattsville’s next fiscal year, FY 2026, runs from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026.)
Five city staff positions were created using ARPA funds, including an intellectual technology (IT) manager and a manager of affordable housing programs and initiatives. According to the presentation, sustaining these positions will cost the city $625,000 in FY 2026. An additional $759,000 will cover increased salaries and benefits following a one-time bump up in pay for some positions that the city determined were underpaid.
In addition to covering personnel costs, Hyattsville used ARPA funding to start a number of new initiatives, including providing students with city camp scholarships. Funds were also directed to complete infrastructure projects that have ongoing maintenance expenses. Projects in this category include tree canopy programs; an annual contract with Throne Labs for the high-tech public restrooms located in Driskell, Hyatt, Heurich, and 38th Avenue Neighborhood parks; and maintenance of community messaging boards. Combined, these will cost the city $514,000 next fiscal year.
The almost $18 million that Hyattsville received from its ARPA grant — money distributed during the pandemic to help states and municipalities with public health and economic recovery — had to be assigned to programs by the end of the 2024 calendar year. ARPA funds must be spent by the end of this calendar year. According to the city’s website, the remaining dates for Hyattsville’s FY 2026 budget process are as follows: April 21, city council budget amendments; May 5, public hearing; May 19, first reading; June 2, adoption of new budget.