March 6, 2009 

NEWS FROM THE MAYOR

Dear Friends, 

Two weeks ago, I joined other big city mayors in a meeting with President Obama to discuss stimulus funding.

President Obama made it very clear in his directive to us that this money is to be spent wisely and it shouldn’t be counted on for future budget needs. This is a one-time bill and cities will be held accountable.

Following that meeting, Milwaukee received its first allocation from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, $22.6 million from the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Specifically, the City will receive:

• $10.3 million to help the Housing Authority rehabilitate and modernize public housing
• $6.9 million to help homeless families and help prevent homelessness
• $4.5 million in community development block grant funds
• $874,085 for lead-paint reduction and remediation

Earlier this week, I announced that $5.8 million in federal Byrne Justice Assistance Grant funds are coming to Milwaukee. Byrne grants provide local governments with the funds necessary to enhance and improve their law enforcement, drug treatment and corrections programs.

Although the stimulus money is aimed at some of Milwaukee’s most pressing issues, stimulus funds alone will not be a cure-all for the current economic downturn.

My intent is to invest the stimulus funding prudently and put as many Milwaukeeans to work as possible. I have no appetite for using the funds to build the City's base operating budget. Our next two City budgets will be hard enough to balance without adding additional permanant spending commitments.

I will look to use stimulus funds on such things as streets, sewers, street lighting, bridge repairs and other municipal improvements that need attention. City taxpayers, through their federal taxes, are paying for the stimulus and should directly benefit.

I am thankful to President Obama and our Congressional Delegation for working on our behalf and I am committed to making sure that the money is invested wisely and responsibly.

Mayor, City of Milwaukee  

Visit my website at: http://www.city.milwaukee.gov/mayor