HOLLAND, MI (WHTC-AM/FM, June 8, 2023) – The Holland City Council on Wednesday night made sure that some one-time federal funds won’t be taken away.
On an unanimous vote, the governing panel approved designating over $2.8 million of remaining state and local fiscal recovery funds for Public Safety Department payroll expenses, with a corresponding amount that had already been allocated for those expenses from the General Fund moved to the Municipal Capital Improvement Fund. The city has already spent over five million of the $8.4 million awarded during the COVID-19 outbreak for utility pay-as-you-go capital projects (such as broadband), expanding fire personnel staffing, and increasing wages to retain staff members.
While saving for a rainy day is fine, City Manager Keith Van Beek cautioned that, if that money wasn’t spent soon, it could be taken away.
Recalling ARPA funds was a bargaining chip during the recently-completed debt ceiling debate in Washington, and $27 billion in unspent money allocated to federal agencies has been recalled as a result.
