Number
191463
Version
ORIGINAL
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. LEWIS, KOVAC, COGGS, JOHNSON, HAMILTON, BAUMAN, RAINEY AND STAMPER
Title
Resolution directing the Administration Director to develop and present a plan to the Common Council for implementing a pilot SEED universal basic income program based on the Stockton model.
Analysis
This resolution directs the Administration Director to develop and present a plan to the Common Council for implementing a pilot SEED universal basic income program based on the Stockton model. The Administration Director shall present this plan to the Common Council within 4 months of adoption of this resolution.
Body
Whereas, The 2020 Budget was adopted by Common Council File Number 190001 on November 26, 2019; and
Whereas, Amendment 7B placed a footnote in the Budget stating, “The Administration Director shall develop and present to the Common Council a plan for implementing a pilot SEED universal basic income program based on the Stockton model”; and
Whereas, In February, 2019, the city of Stockton, California piloted the country’s first municipal guaranteed income initiative; and
Whereas, The Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration (SEED) program gives 125 Stockton residents an unconditional $500-a-month payment for 18 months; and
Whereas, Guaranteed income programs allow low-income and working class individuals to decide for themselves where extra income would help the most; and
Whereas, Preliminary reports from Stockton indicate that the majority of participants spent their funds on food, merchandise, and utilities; and
Whereas, Milwaukee suffers from many of the same racial and economic disparities that Stockton aimed to overcome through this program; and
Whereas, Universal basic income could significantly improve the lives of Milwaukee residents who live at or below the poverty line; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the Administration Director is directed...
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