OBSERVER file photo Jamestown received $28 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding. Pictured, from left, are Elliot Raimondo, corporation counsel; Tim O’Dell, grants manager; Mayor Eddie Sundquist and City Council President Anthony Dolce, R-Ward II at a meeting to discuss proposals in March.

Despite what many Chautauqua County residents believe when they pull the lever, there really is not much of a difference between the two major parties on a local and national level. Take away the debate on abortion and the Second Amendment and you will find a swath of common ground.

Especially when it comes to your tax dollars. Both parties are big spenders.

It was evident in the approval of the CARES Act, which stood for the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security plan that unleashed $484 billion in free money to those who lost employment or were facing hardships due to the onset of the pandemic. There was unanimous support in April 2020 from the Senate and only five in the House of 435 who rejected the plan.

Four conservatives, including Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, and three leaders of the Freedom Caucus, Reps. Andy Biggs of Arizona, Ken Buck of Colorado and Jody Hice of Georgia.

The other “no” vote came from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who believed the relief package needed to be even larger.

While that plan helped individual households, another was aimed at already heavily subsidized institutions: our public sector.

Republicans took a much tougher line on the American Rescue Plan Act package in February 2021, during the early weeks of the Joe Biden presidency. Sensing Democrats had enough votes to put through the package, not one Republican voted in favor of the $1.9 trillion giveaway even though they understood the benefits.

That has not stopped the party from reaping the rewards on a local level. According to early tallies, Chautauqua County was in line to receive more than $83 million.

Jamestown was the biggest winner with $28 million, the county raked in another $25 million and Dunkirk scored $11 million. Other significant portions went to the town of Pomfret, $2.6 million; village of Fredonia, $1.9 million; town of Ellicott, $1.5 million; town of Busti, $1.3 million; town of Hanover, $1.2 million; town of Westfield, $849,986; town of Ellery, $801,758; town of Chautauqua, $786,421; town of Carroll, $619,011.

Not too shabby.

But despite that cash infusion, there has been very little investment occurring that has bettered the quality of life in our communities. In fact, you could make the case that the largest breadwinners have turned the jackpot into rainy day funds. They can make repairs here, buy a vehicle there and stock up on equipment.

Last month in the town of Portland, the use of ARPA funds had the look of a game show spurred on by Town Board member Gary Miller. “I suggest we spend this money,” he said.

In showcase showdown fashion, the board quickly purchased a generator for town hall and later approved the clearing of land for a helicopter pad. Necessary? Could be. Making the purchase without the windfall? Probably not.

Other municipalities also fortified their governments that are on the decline in terms of population. Pomfret is considering purchasing a building or location for a new town hall through the funds. Jamestown has put funding toward public safety hirings and housing projects. Who could forget when Dunkirk allocated $300,000 to give each staff member, including elected officials, a one-time bonus of more than $2,000 each?

Even if most of the money has been spent responsibly, it does not mean there isn’t a bit of frivolity involved. Consider the county shelling out $70,000 to convert a former print shop to an office that has new furniture. Or how about another $30,000 for message boards, which seems to mimic mind-numbing decisions by our State Thruway Authority.

In the end, all the CARES and ARPA bucks have been a huge convenience for local officials, many of whom do not like making tough decisions. Next year, as the Portland Town Board was reminded, those funds — used or not — will dry up.

Governments — and schools — have been riding a gravy train during the last three years thanks to Washington’s overreaction to the COVID crisis. A rude awakening is not far away.

John D’Agostino is the editor of The Post-Journal, OBSERVER and Times Observer in Warren, Pa. Send comments to jdagostino@observertoday.com or call 716-487-1111, ext. 253.