Waynesville's successful ARP strategy is built upon solid foundational plans

Waynesville’s American Rescue Plan (ARP) story is a case in solid, foundational government administration. It reveals preparedness, an understanding of the community’s needs, and efficiency, both in terms of cost and time. Their overall strategy and planning efforts were firmly in place well before ARP monies became available, making it so that the additional funds could be directed towards established needs and strategic efforts quickly. Not even one year after receiving their first tranche of funds, Waynesville had invested nearly all of the appropriation into the community.

"It’s being used, and it’s already making a difference," said Town Manager Rob Hites.

Waynesville’s strategy towards the American Rescue Plan is both far-reaching and targeted, said Hites. The town’s investments touch several areas of town, including public safety, sanitation and recycling, parks and greenways, town staffing and most notably, infrastructure. These projects were not chosen at random. Rather, they’re part of a strategic effort by the town to make the largest possible impact with each ARP dollar received.

At the foundation of their efforts is the town’s Capital Improvement Plan, which lays out the town’s needs over the next five years. It was established prior to the passage of the American Rescue Plan. Once that additional financial support became available, it served as a roadmap for Waynesville on how to proceed.

"We recognized that this is a windfall," Hites said, speaking of the monies received and the strategy pursued by Waynesville’s Mayor and Board of Alderman. "With our plan, we were able to see clearly what needed funding."

Two priorities rose above all others: water infrastructure and government service delivery. Waynesville is presently in the midst of a $25 million water and sewer project, and while the town’s $3.2 million ARP allocation cannot cover the entire investment, it will make headway towards some of that project’s most pressing concerns.

Regarding the issue of service delivery, Waynesville, like many other local governments around the state and country, has faced challenges in recruiting and retaining employees. To address that concern, the town provided salary increases. Only a short time into that investment, the payoff has already become clear. "We’re so much more competitive in hiring staff. There’s still room to go, but where we used to have eight police officer vacancies, now we have two. It makes a difference for the community," said Hites.

Weaving through Waynesville’s overarching approach to project selection is a central goal: long-term cost savings. Among Waynesville’s list of projects are ultimately unavoidable investments, such as police and fire vehicles, critical equipment, and water infrastructure. The American Rescue Plan allowed Waynesville to avoid taking on debt to fund those investments. Assuming a five-year borrowing period at an interest rate of 2.5%, Hites estimates that Waynesville is saving approximately $570,000 through its ARP strategy.

The effectiveness of Waynesville’s strategy can be seen, perhaps most clearly, in one final investment example: recycling and garbage collection. The town used a small portion of its ARP funds to upgrade the town’s recycling equipment, which included new bins for all residents. The upgrades succeeded in creating a far safer work environment for the sanitation employees. But even more remarkable was the community response. Almost immediately, Waynesville saw its recycling rate increase by 65 percent, according to Hites.

"It has been a phenomenal change," said Hites.