Just as vaccines are getting into arms, so is the expected stimulus money in the American Rescue Plan, part of the $1.9 trillion stimulus signed by President Joe Biden to assist communities recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mayor Derek Slaughter said this week the city is slated to receive up to $25.8 million in stimulus.

He said he was unclear on the exact terms and obligations but said it may arrive in two separate installments, the first of which could arrive by mid-May.

A city consulting firm representative also previewed the upbeat update recently for council’s finance committee.

“You are going to be getting, shortly, a big chunk of dollars equivalent to a little bit more than your budget,” said Steven Wray, a consultant with EConsult Solutions, the recently hired firm that is working with the city on its strategic financial management plan, a program through the state Department of Community and Economic Development.

Councilwoman Bonnie Katz said the stimulus could not have arrived at a better time.

“Our expenses keep on going up and our revenue is shortfunded at this point,” Katz said.

The city taxpayers were hit with a real estate tax increase of 0.5 mills, or $50 on a $100,000 property.

Business privilege, mercantile and earned income tax revenue could be lower because of the pandemic impacts, said Nicholas Grimes, city treasurer/tax collector.

The layoffs, closures and impact was greatest in the second quarter of 2020, he said.

EConsult Solution’s annual contract of just under $65,000 was paid through a state Department of Community and Economic Development grant that city was awarded, Slaughter said.

The department covered 70 percent of the contract cost, he said.

The city used about $19,000 in Community Development Block Grant money to pay for its 30 percent match for the grant for the program, Slaughter said.

Council’s finance committee may get a glimpse of the first-quarter financials at its next meeting at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Slaughter said.