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Council approves HRCS carry-forward reallocation; some members and residents urge faster spending for homelessness services
Summary
The council approved a $1.7 million carry-forward reallocation for the Human Relations and Community Services (HRCS) agency to fund alternative shelter projects and studies; at least one councilmember and residents criticized leaving funds unspent while needs remain.
The Lansing City Council on Feb. 24 approved a budget amendment reallocating HRCS agency carry-forward funds from fiscal 2023-24 totaling roughly $1.7 million to support projects including an alternative shelter project, community problem-solving accounts, a homelessness study and other initiatives.
Councilmember Vice President Carter presented the item and said staff described plans to spend the remaining program funds during the current fiscal year. The amendment covers multiple line items: alternative temporary shelter, community problem-solving, HRCS discretionary uses, an MFCC prevailing wage study, a PPA homelessness study, community needs assessment, emergency hoteling and related racial equity work.
Councilmember Jackson voted against the amendment as a protest over funds remaining unspent while the city faces active needs for homelessness services. Jackson said he was concerned about carry-forward amounts on "such important things like shelters, homelessness issues, food shortages, racial justice and equity" and objected to money being carried for a second year instead of being deployed.
A member of the public, Mitch Rice, raised concerns in a public comment earlier about the HRCS report and said the plan lacked detail on how the agency would spend $746,624.94 on an alternative shelter project and questioned the scope of a $80,000 community needs assessment. Rice recommended more defined plans and stronger oversight.
Council approved the amendment 7-1. City staff said unused program funds from contracted agencies are not uncommon and that the agencies provided spending plans; the city will monitor expenditure and implement accounting improvements tied to new financial software.
