By Rick Brundrett
Special to the Chronicle
Lexington County is due $57.9 million more in tax money from Washington.
The money is in the federal covid-19 American Rescue Plan.
The only catch is it comes with no clear instructions on how it is to be spent after bCongress passed the plan 2 months ago.
We wrote Columbia and Lexington, Greenville and Richland counties about it but received no reply.
The National League of Cities' latest AAmerican Rescue Plan allocation list shows that Columbia would receive $27.1 million.
That's the highest amount among metro cities in the state.
Richland County is due $80.6 million.
Generally, the Municipal Association of South Carolina says towns such as Lexington and cities such as Cayce and West Columbia can use the money:
• To aid families, small businesses and non-profits.
• Help industries such as tourism, travel and hospitality.
• For "premium” pay to essential workers or grants to employers with essential workers. 
Neither “premium” pay nor “essential” workers was defined.
• For government services affected by revenue reductions.
• For necessary investment in water, sewer or broadband upgrades.
Brundrett is the news editor of The Nerve (www.thenerve.org). Contact him at 803-254-4411 or rick@thenerve.org
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