KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – The Kalamazoo City Commission Monday afternoon will review plans to spend millions in COVID-19 relief funding from the federal government.
The City was issued over $40 million through the American Rescue Plan Act, some of which has already been allocated for revenue replacement, to address immediate community needs, and to stem gun violence.
The proposal may reignite a clash between commissioners and staff over the use of ARPA dollars to fund efforts previously funded by the Foundation for Excellence.
Foundation for Excellence director Steve Brown is proposing that over $3 million spent by the foundation last year instead be funded with the ARPA dollars in 2023. Brown says if they spend Foundation for Excellence now, that won’t be there in the future when they won’t have ARPA funds to fall back on.
Most commissioners have said they feel the city should not be supplanting, but expanding the money spent on those programs in this critical time of need.
Commissioners won’t be voting on the proposal this afternoon. It will become part of next year’s budget which won’t be finalized until January 2023.
(reporting from John McNeill)
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