Burlington has received $27 million in American Rescue Plan funds, with plans to allocate 95% of those funds through the 2022 fiscal year budget process and a community engagement effort this summer.The City of Burlington Finance Committee meeting Monday night, however, to discuss propose spending $1 million of those funds to kickstart the city’s economic recovery. “We were looking at what we may need immediately moving forward,” Kara Alnasrawi, City of Burlington, said.The immediate spending would target public health, everything from food relief to improving communication with city residents. As well as the continuation of wastewater testing.”Some of this is tightly related to mental health as well,” Alnasrawi said. Ideas for the community involve free activities, a public art project and cleaning up graffiti around the city. East District Councilor Jack Hanson believes the immediate spending makes sense. “There’s no red flags for me,” Hanson said. “Big picture I’m going to be pushing hard to make sure that as much of this money we can use to build a new economy going forward at least on the local level.”When it’s time to allocate the rest of the $27 million, Hanson sees a greater need. The councilman wants to see the city allocate some funds towards climate change efforts.In his district, which is mostly made up of renters, Hanson also hopes they will see money going toward affordable housing initiatives.”How can we make renting in Burlington more affordable and much higher quality as well?”
Burlington has received $27 million in American Rescue Plan funds, with plans to allocate 95% of those funds through the 2022 fiscal year budget process and a community engagement effort this summer.
The City of Burlington Finance Committee meeting Monday night, however, to discuss propose spending $1 million of those funds to kickstart the city’s economic recovery.
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“We were looking at what we may need immediately moving forward,” Kara Alnasrawi, City of Burlington, said.
The immediate spending would target public health, everything from food relief to improving communication with city residents. As well as the continuation of wastewater testing.
“Some of this is tightly related to mental health as well,” Alnasrawi said.
Ideas for the community involve free activities, a public art project and cleaning up graffiti around the city.
East District Councilor Jack Hanson believes the immediate spending makes sense.
“There’s no red flags for me,” Hanson said. “Big picture I’m going to be pushing hard to make sure that as much of this money we can use to build a new economy going forward at least on the local level.”
When it’s time to allocate the rest of the $27 million, Hanson sees a greater need. The councilman wants to see the city allocate some funds towards climate change efforts.
In his district, which is mostly made up of renters, Hanson also hopes they will see money going toward affordable housing initiatives.
“How can we make renting in Burlington more affordable and much higher quality as well?”
