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Green Bay panel reclassifies 13 AmeriCorps-funded positions to seasonal roles after federal grant suspension
Summary
The City of Green Bay Personnel Committee approved converting 13 AmeriCorps-funded conservation corps positions to city seasonal positions after notice that federal AmeriCorps funding was suspended; staff outlined short-term budget impacts and possible interim fundraising options.
On April 20, 2025, the City of Green Bay Personnel Committee voted to reclassify 13 conservation corps positions that had been funded by an AmeriCorps federal grant into 13 seasonal city positions after the city was notified the federal grant had been suspended.
The change followed notice from the state pass-through that the AmeriCorps grant had been suspended, prompting staff to send home 13 AmeriCorps members and to propose converting the positions to seasonal city maintenance roles for up to one month. "Our grant was being suspended and we needed to cease any activities for grant spending purposes effective immediately," said Maria, program staff, describing the notice and its effects. Committee members approved the requested reclassification by voice vote; Alder Grant moved the motion and Alder Hinkfuss seconded it, and the motion carried.
Why it matters: the conservation/community corps work included prairie plantings and other park projects scheduled for spring; staff said losing crews would force the city to forfeit or donate planted materials. Maria told the committee the city had budgeted $120,891 in local matching funds for the program and had recorded $262,722 in total revenues to date with $192,262 in expenses. She reported a proposed one-month rehiring of the 13 members as seasonal employees would cost $25,879 if all returned; keeping three program staff on through about 2½–3 months was estimated at $44,865. Staff said an "overall impact on the budget of $284" would be absorbed into the Parks and Recreation budget. The $36,000 in federal reimbursement that staff expected to receive was described as "tentatively approved" and pending state processing.
Committee members discussed possible interim funding sources, including a planned press conference and community crowdfunding and noted the State of Wisconsin — the grant pass-through — was exploring supplemental options while litigation at the federal level proceeded. Maria and other staff described short-term options rather than a long-term staffing plan; staff said any future work by a conservation corps would need to be fully city-funded unless the federal funding is restored.
The committee did not adopt a separate formal motion to retain the three full-time program staff; during discussion staff said those positions could be covered within existing budget authority while the city monitors expenditures. The committee voted on the reclassification motion only; the motion text approved conversion of the 13 AmeriCorps-funded positions to seasonal city positions due to the loss of federal grant funding.
