Zoom photo
Monday night’s Board of Alders meeting.
Tens of millions of dollars of federal pandemic-era aid flowed in and out of the Aldermanic Chambers, as city legislators approved a $26.3 million spending plan with one vote, and accepted another $25.3 million in federal aid with a second.
Alders took those votes Monday night during the latest full board meeting, held online via Zoom and YouTube Live.
Both votes pertained to federal aid the city is receiving thanks to the $1.9 trillion federal American Rescue Plan Act passed by Congress and signed by President Biden in March.
On Monday night, alders voted unanimously in support of approving a plan put forward by the Elicker Administration as to how to spend roughly $26.3 million of the $90 million the city expects to get through the direct local aid portion of the federal legislation.
Around $6.3 million of that money is slated to be spent on a slate of “summer reset” programs, including summer concerts, citywide cleanup crews, playground repairs, extended summer camps, neighborhood popup festivals, police walking beats, and local artist grants. The remaining $20 million will be used for “municipal cost recovery” to cover increased city costs and lost city revenue related to the pandemic.
“This timely funding will address real needs,” Edgewood Alder and Finance Committee Chair Evette Hamilton said in support of the $26.3 million spending plan on Monday night.
The second federal aid-related vote taken by the alders Monday was to accept nearly $25.3 million in aid through the county allocation of the American Rescue Plan Act.
According to a letter written to the alders on Friday by City Budget Director Mike Gormany, the city found out about this county-level aid on Friday — and the city has to submit claims for that allocation to the state by Wednesday.
“These funds are intended to provide a substantial infusion of resources to help turn the tide on the pandemic and its economic fallout, and lay the foundation for a strong and equitable recovery,” Hamilton said, quoting Gormany’s Friday letter.
She also noted that this county allocation will be distributed to the city in two tranches: once this year, once next year.
While the resolution before the board on Monday would allow the city to accept the county allocation, Hamilton said, it also “preserves the authority of this body, the Board of Alders, to determine the program method for appropriation of these funds following its receipt. The administration plans extensive public outreach on this matter.”
Alders voted unanimously in support of both federal aid items.