Harrisburg council amends budget reallocation, requires awardees to present before host‑fee funds are dispersed

Harrisburg City Council voted unanimously to approve Resolution 40, the third proposed 2026 budget reallocation, after adopting a negotiated amendment that caps host‑fee allocations at the exhibit amounts and requires every prospective awardee to present to council before any disbursement.

The amendment, offered by President Danielle L. Hill and agreed with the administration, was presented as a transparency measure after multiple public commenters urged the city to reallocate $25,000 to Junth HBG — a weeklong series of events centered on Juneteenth that organizers said brings tourism and economic activity to Harrisburg. Dr. Kamiki Campbell, a founder of Young Professionals of Color Greater Harrisburg and lead Junth organizer, asked the council to reallocate $25,000 and waive nearly $15,000 in municipal fees that she said threatened this year’s parade. Other Junth leaders, including Elise Irvvis and Eris Smallwood, described earned national media coverage and hundreds of participating vendors and pressed for resident‑led funds to be spent in the city.

Vice President Jones, reporting from the budget and finance committee, explained that the reallocation addresses overruns at the Broad Street Market project (staff cited roughly $973,942 in encumbrances and a projected total near $23.7 million), and that insurance reimbursements are expected but are reimbursements — the city must first fund contracted work and then seek insurance payments. Staff told council some additional change orders had not yet been reported and that figures could change.

Council members pressed for greater transparency about how grant and host‑fee money will be used. President Hill’s amendment makes the allocations in Exhibit A the maximum amounts and conditions disbursement on a required presentation to council; the amendment passed 6–0, and Resolution 40 as amended then passed 6–0.

The council also heard community speakers who said the city’s use of CDBG and host funds should prioritize resident‑led programs and grassroots economic development rather than contracts that send money outside city limits. Several speakers urged the council to pause CDBG drawdowns for the Broad Street Market until insurance proceeds and alternative funding sources were clarified.

Next steps: Resolution 40 (as amended) is approved; awardees named in Exhibit A must appear before council for review before funds are released. Council members also requested ongoing updates from finance on Broad Street Market incurrences and insurance reimbursements.