• Three months after the passage of the American Rescue Plan, Wisconsin communities are beginning to put their cut of the COVID-19 relief package to work.
  • Local governments in Wisconsin are getting about $2 billion, while the state government is slated to get $2.5 billion. The funds are intended to help make up for revenue shortfalls felt throughout the pandemic, stabilize local economies, and address healthcare disparities.
  • “The hotel/motel tax we received was down. We had a pretty substantial recreation program, and that covers its own expenses, and those revenues were down. We held many of those programs at a loss,” Germantown Village Administrator Steve Kreklow said. “We saw decreases in other revenues like fines and forfeitures and ambulance fees. Overall, we were down over $1 million in revenues.”
  • Other communities, like Menomonie, Cedarburg, and Superior, weathered the pandemic without significant budget losses, so they are still determining the best use of the additional money.
  • “We came out of the pandemic looking well, but that was strictly our very resilient community and strong financial acumen and the finance team here at the city,” said Nick Raverty, chief of staff to Superior Mayor Jim Paine. “I think we just had a good safety net in place.” Some of Superior’s relief funding will go toward broadband expansion, Raverty said.
  • Meanwhile, Milwaukee launched a survey to ask its residents how they want to see the city’s $394 million cut used. Kenosha plans to use some of its money on affordable housing in the city.