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:
| Municipality | Federal Aid - No Overlap | Federal 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.
