Lawrence committee splits $300,000 childcare appropriation, forwards $170,000 to full council

The Lawrence City Budget and Finance Committee on Jan. 29 voted to split a $300,000 appropriation intended for the city's childcare circuit after several previously awarded organizations declined to accept funds. The committee voted to send $170,000 to the full City Council with a favorable recommendation and tabled the remaining portion pending follow-up with two local groups.

The vote followed a presentation by Susan (Sue) Fink, manager of financial and administrative services, who said the mayor requested the additional funds to continue a program that had begun as a pandemic emergency measure and that the appropriation would sustain enrolled families for about three months while staff seek alternative funding. "The mayor is requesting these funds, to help those family family during that transition," Fink said during the meeting.

Why it matters: Committee members said an abrupt end to the program would leave families without a planned transition and urged keeping services in place while staff research longer-term options.

Committee discussion and split motion: Fink told the committee that several originally awarded organizations declined funding because of program terms. "Both the Greater Lawrence Family Health Center and Lawrence General Hospital declined their funding, because they did not want to proceed with the program with the Modelo Pregnancy Tracker," Fink said. She added that some nonprofit awardees could not front costs because the Creating a Thriving Lawrence launch program reimburses recipients only after they submit invoices.

Council President Giovanni Rodriguez moved to split the item into "a" and "b," placing $170,000 (including $100,000 for Greater Lawrence Family Health Center, $50,000 for Lawrence General Hospital and $20,000 from the airport/loan portion) into 22-25(a) and leaving the amounts awarded to Semana Espaf1a (Semana Hispana) and Lowtown/LockDown Boxing in 22-25(b) for further discussion. The motion was seconded by Councilor Vivian Marmol and carried.

The committee then voted to send item 22-25(a) to the full council with a favorable recommendation. The committee also invited Maria Muller, identified in the meeting as the childcare-circuit representative, and a representative of Lowtown Boxing to appear at the next full council meeting to explain their standing and to clarify whether they can submit reimbursements.

What remains: The committee tabled 22-25(b) while staff follow up with the organizations that declined awards. Members asked staff to document communications with each recipient and to bring evidence (letters of declination, invoice history or contracts) to the full council.

Actions at the meeting included motions to approve minutes from prior meetings and multiple voice votes approving the split and the transmission of 22-25(a) to the council. The item affecting the remaining $130,000 was tabled pending outreach and additional documentation.

Next steps: Staff will provide details and any written declinations or letters of intent from awardees at the full council meeting; the committee requested that Maria Muller appear to explain program operations and scholarship calculations.