MidHudson News is reporting the Dutchess County Legislature has approved the spending of $1.8 million in American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA funds for a one-time bonus to county employees considered essential during the COVID pandemic. Each county worker that qualifies will receive a $1,000 payment in recognition of their work during the pandemic shutdown. At a legislative committee meeting November 4, Democrat Barrington Atkins, who represents Poughkeepsie, tried to amend the proposal to make it a one-time payment of $2,000 for each of the workers. The amendment failed and Atkins took to social media to criticize his Republican colleagues.  According to County Executive Marc Molinaro, if Atkins' amendment had passed, the payments would have been delayed in order to re-negotiate with the unions representing the workers. The impacted workers are members of the CSEA, DCDSPBA, DCSEA, or the DCSA. Legislature Chairman Gregg Pulver praised the plan. “Our county employees went above and beyond throughout the pandemic. ... I am so proud of each and every one of them. This is a token of our gratitude and I am thrilled we are in the financial position to be able to offer them this distribution.” The payments are expected to be issued to 1,609 county workers before the end of the year. Read the full story at MidHudsonNews [dot] com.