GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – For the first time, Green Bay’s mayor revealed a proposal for how the city should spend $23.7 million from the American Rescue Plan.
The money comes with restrictions. It is supposed to be spent on areas and people that were most affected by the pandemic.
Under Mayor Eric Genrich’s budget proposal, taxes will be going up for Green Bay residents for a fifth straight year. However, he says American Rescue Fund money is keeping the rate hike to one percent instead of two.
“I’m proposing $700,000, primarily to defray the cost of one-time spending on repairs to buildings, equipment repairs, equipment purchases, those sorts of things.”
That leaves $23 million that needs to be allocated by the end of 2024 and spent by 2026.
Genrich is proposing $10 million of that be spent on capital needs like roads and bridges, $6 million towards affordable housing and small business support, $3 million for stormwater, green infrastructure and climate resilience, $2 million to crime prevention and neighborhoods, and the final million would go to arts, culture, and tourism.
“Hoping to get that blessing from the joint finance and personal committee as well as council sort of parallel to our budget,” said Genrich.
“So early November hopefully for that framework, but also looking to our council and the community to continue to sort of form the details of that.”
714 people responded to an online survey on how the city should spend the American Rescue Funds money. About 1 of every 7 people said it should go toward roads. That was more than double the next highest suggestion, which was violence prevention.
“The citizens that were here were most concerned about the violence and the safety of its community,” said Richard Parins, a member of the Brown County Taxpayers Association.
Parins was one of about a handful of non city employees and council members at NWTC Thursday evening for discussion on the budget and use of federal money.
Parins questioned whether more money should go to public safety.
“It’s getting a little dicey out there at times. Sometimes the speeders are just unbelievably over the top, it really is.”
Police Chief Chris Davis noted photo enforcement for speeding is illegal in Wisconsin, but speed reader board upgrades could help.
“Also if you can keep good data of where traffic violations and especially where crashes are happening, because our resources are limited, it’s important we focus enforcement resources on high crash corridors.”.
The city council will have the final say on how the American Rescue funds are spent.
Another open house discussion is being held next Tuesday at 5:30 at UW-Green Bay.
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