KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Kalamazoo City Commissioners were asked at their last meeting if they had any ideas for next year’s budget and Commissioner Quianna Decker had a couple. She suggested that $200,000 be put back in the budget to help elderly residents make home repairs, allowing them to stay in their homes.
Decker also suggested that a Million Dollars in Covid Relief Funding be set aside to improve daycare for working families in Kalamazoo. She says that would not only help residents, but also employers.
“Our businesses need people that can come to work. Individuals aren’t able to come to work sometimes because they lack childcare,” said Decker.
Commissioner Chris Preadel says he has talked to the experts about this and its not going to be a quick fix.
“Dr. Tim Bartik from Upjohn Institute, he estimated that the best case scenario, if you were able to start to implement now, the earliest that you’d be able to start executing this work is in fall 2024,” said Preadel.
City Manager Jim Ritsema says staff will explore both proposals which they will discuss at their annual Board Retreat early in 2023.
Reporting by: John McNeill
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