Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the ARPA Allocations topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Milwaukee council approves split ARPA reallocations for eviction prevention and maternal supports after heated debate
Summary
After a contentious floor debate about process and priorities, the Common Council approved separate appropriations from roughly $617,000 in leftover ARPA funds: $317,214.37 for Legal Aid Society’s Eviction Free Milwaukee and $300,000 for the Bridal Project maternal-support cohort.
The Milwaukee Common Council voted to reallocate roughly $617,000 in leftover American Rescue Plan Act funds, approving two separate appropriations after members divided a broader substitute amendment on the floor.
Alderwoman Dimitrijevich, sponsor of Substitute A, said the package targeted “upstream solutions” and proposed directing $317,214.37 to the Legal Aid Society’s Eviction Free Milwaukee program and $300,000 to the Bridal Project, a three‑year maternal supports initiative. “We found out, a couple weeks ago that there was still, amount of money over $600,000 $617,000 of ARPA reallocation available,” she said, urging the council to use the funds on proven, evidence-based programs to keep families in their homes.
Opponents criticized the timing and scope of the substitution. Alderman Chambers said she would vote against the Bridal Project tranche because she believed the funds should be concentrated on citywide youth activities and other pressing needs: “I’m gonna be voting against this, quite frankly, because we have more, important things, more pressing needs in the city, like, our current youth activity,” she said on the floor.
Council members debated procedure at length before dividing the question so each of the two principal items in Substitute A would be considered separately. The vote on appropriating $300,000 to the Bridal Project passed 9–6 by roll call. The separate appropriation of $317,214.37 to Eviction Free Milwaukee was approved on roll call with the ayes recorded by the clerk for Pratt, Chambers, Brower, Bauman, Westmoreland, Coggs, Zamaripa, Taylor, Moore, Bergelis, Speicher, Dimitrijevich, Stamper and the council president.
Alderpersons who supported the package argued the allocations represent focused investments with measurable returns: eviction-prevention assistance can stabilize households and reduce homelessness, while the Bridal Project’s cohort model aims to support new mothers and their children. Dissenting members urged more inclusive, citywide allocations for youth jobs and summer programs, or at least more time for council collaboration before finalizing spending decisions.
After the divided votes on the substitute items, the council adopted the Finance and Personnel Committee report as amended (roll call on the amended file produced 10 ayes, 5 noes). The council then moved on to the remainder of the day’s agenda.
