Council adopts parts of appropriation ordinance 2024-02; approves $350,702 for CID and reauthorizes up to $500,000 ARPA for homelessness programs

The Bloomington Common Council on Aug. 7 adopted two parts of appropriation ordinance 2024-02 and declined to adopt a third.

Part 1, which the council approved by roll call, provides an amended 2024 budget for the Monroe County Capital Improvement Board (CID) and additional appropriations from the food and beverage tax. Jeff Underwood, controller and deputy assistant treasurer for the CID, said the revised CID budget would be $600,702 (an increase of about $350,702 from the earlier $250,000 appropriation) to cover professional services (including owner's representative and pre-construction services), legal and controller services, and construction manager pre-construction fees. Underwood said several decreases (insurance and website costs) lowered other categories.

Council voted to adopt Part 1 by voice/roll call; the clerk reported the motion passed with an 8–0 tally.

Part 2 — an additional appropriation for the city clerk/general fund — was brought forward but after discussion the council voted against adopting that portion; the roll call on Part 2 was recorded as 0–8 and the part was not adopted. City Clerk Nicole Bolden had requested postponement for further conversation; the council and city attorneys discussed notice and re-advertising implications and agreed the clerk's portion could be brought in a separate ordinance later.

Part 3 concerns ARPA funds that Heading Home has indicated it will return to the city. Controller McClellan said Heading Home originally received $1.2 million as a subrecipient but will return part of that amount; the ordinance authorizes the city to appropriate up to $500,000 of those returned ARPA funds to be administered by the Housing & Neighborhood Development (HAND) department for homelessness-related projects that align with the Heading Home plan. HAND Director Anna Killian Hansen and Heading Home Director Mary Morgan told the council that administering the funds through the city reduces a layering of subrecipients and allows the city to ensure federal compliance. They also warned that subrecipient monitoring and federal reporting will require staff capacity. The council adopted Part 3 by roll call, reported as 8–0.

Taken together, the council approved the CID appropriation (Part 1) and the ARPA reappropriation (Part 3) and declined the clerk/general fund portion (Part 2). Council members and staff discussed next steps for contracting and design work related to the convention center project and noted that any pre-construction contracts cannot be billed until the council appropriates funds.