Overview of the Equity Panel’s Proposed Allocation Funds
The Equity and Accountability Review Panel evaluates if federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds are being spent in Massachusetts communities that need the most support. Towns or cities that suffered the greatest hardship and were disproportionately affected due to the COVID-19 pandemic will receive the most funding. The proposed metrics below will help the panel determine each community's level of need and how much funding they should receive.
Equity Allocation Goals
The goal of the Equity and Accountability Review Panel is to ensure tiers that were disproportionately impacted by the pandemic receive a greater level of support. To do that, the Panel proposes a 50% funding allocation increase for each tier, from Tier 4 (lowest need) to Tier 1 (highest need). This means that for every $1 spent in tier 4, 50% more (or $1.5) should be spent in tier 3, another 50% more in tier 2 ($2.25), and so on. The table below describes how this proposal would impact funding allocations.
| Tier | Proposed Allocation Weight | Percentage of total allocated funds ($2.55 billion) | Total spending for all cities and towns in each tier | Spending divided by total population in each tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 4 | 1 (base) | 12% | $306 million | $104.67 per person |
| Tier 3 | 1.50 (Tier 4 x 1.5) | 18% | $459 million | $429.97 per person |
| Tier 2 | 2.25 (Tier 3 x 1.5) | 28% | $714 million | $755.86 per person |
| Tier 1 | 3.38 (Tier 2 x 1.5) | 42% | $1,071 million | $511.37 per person |
Equity Allocation Metrics
The panel used three metrics to measure the level of need for each town or city (Vaccine Equity Initiative Community, Environmental Justice Community, the CDC’s Social Vulnerability Index). Each metric represents a kind of hardship for the population.
1. Is it a Vaccine Equity Initiative Community
The state’s executive office of health and human services created the COVID-19 Vaccine Equity Initiative to prioritize the 20 communities most impacted during COVID-19 pandemic.
Why this metric? Since these federal funds are meant to assist those disproportionately affected by the pandemic, the Panel wanted to consider these communities and ensure they have the resources they need.
2. 50% or more of the community’s population lives within an Environmental Justice income group
Households that earn 65% or less than the statewide annual median household income qualify as part of an Environmental Justice population.
Why this metric? The bill that created the Panel (Chapter 102 of the Acts of 2021) requires the use of the Environmental Justice population to help determine a city or town’s level of need. The Panel chose to look at the income criteria to make sure communities with limited resources were prioritized for these federal funds.
3. At least half of its geographic area covered by a Social Vulnerability Index score of at least 0.5 (rounded)
A Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) identifies communities that will most likely need support before, during, and after a public health emergency. The index ranks population segments on 15 social factors, including poverty, lack of personal vehicle access, crowded housing, and more. SVI scores range from 0 (lowest vulnerability) to 1 (highest vulnerability). These population segments aren’t restricted by municipal borders and can cover just part of a community or stretch across several communities at a time.
Why this metric? The bill that created the Panel (Chapter 102 of the Acts of 2021) requires the use of the SVI to help determine the level of need in a city or town. For this metric, the panel has identified cities and towns that are at least 50% covered by population segments with a rounded SVI score of 0.5 or more. These communities require additional resources to not only address the effects suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic but also prepare for a future public health emergency.
Why is it rounded? The panel chose to round SVI scores that were just below 0.5 (rounding up from 0.45).
How the metrics create tiers
Each town or city will then be assigned to a tier based on the total number of the metrics above that apply to them. Communities with a higher need will be allocated more funding.
For example, if all three metrics apply to a town or city, they will be assigned to Tier 1 (highest need). If none of the metrics below apply to a city or town, they’ll be assigned to Tier 4 (lowest need).
- Tier 1: All three metrics
- Tier 2: Any two metrics
- Tier 3: Any one metrics
- Tier 4: No metrics apply
See here for the map of the metrics across the Commonwealth.
The table below shows how the above metrics apply to cities and towns and to which tier they’ve been assigned.