Number
201615
Version
ORIGINAL
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. MURPHY, JOHNSON, KOVAC, PEREZ AND COGGS
Title
Resolution relating to establishing a public dashboard detailing allocation and expenditure of funds received through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
Analysis
This resolution directs the Department of Administration to develop and implement a public dashboard showing how the funds received by the City under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 are allocated and expended.
Body
Whereas, The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA), signed into law by President Joseph R. Biden on March 11, 2021, provides more than $1.88 trillion in federal investments urgently needed to help workers, families, businesses and state and local governments recover from the on-going COVID-19 public health emergency; and
Whereas, ARPA includes direct funding for local governments that may be used for responding to the COVID-19 public health emergency, to offset revenue losses, to provide assistance to households, small business and non-profits, to aid impacted industries like hospitality, tourism, and travel, and to provide premium pay for essential workers; and
Whereas, ARPA also includes funds for local government to carry out critical infrastructure projects enabling work, education and health monitoring in response to COVID-19, as well as other targeted funding that may be awarded to local governments at a later date; and
Whereas, Milwaukee is likely to initially receive more than $400 million in ARPA funds, to be used by December 31, 2024, and potentially additional funding from targeted ARPA appropriations; and
Whereas, Given the magnitude of this federal investment in Milwaukee’s future, it is imperative that that the allocation and expenditure of the City’s ARPA funds be carried out with the utmost transparency and opportunity for public discussion and comment; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the Department of Administration is directed to develop and implement a public dashboard publicizing Milwaukee’s awards through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA), as well as information about permissible expenditures for the funds; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the dashboard shall detail proposals for how the City’s ARPA funds will be allocated; and, be it
Further Resolved, That this dashboard shall include opportunities for soliciting and aggregating public comment on proposed ARPA funding allocations; and, be it
Further Resolved, That this dashboard shall be routinely updated to show the City’s actual ARPA fund allocations and expenditures, as well as receipt and allocation of additional ARPA funds as may become available; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Department of Administration shall periodically report the public’s comments and any trends revealed by those comments to the Common Council; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Department of Administration shall report to the Common Council a plan and timeline for publicizing and implementing the dashboard within 30 days of adoption of this resolution.
Requestor
Drafter
LRB176615-1
Dana J. Zelazny
March 23, 2021