Harrisburg City Council approves nearly 16 million in American Rescue Plan funds
The Harrisburg City Council approved more than $15.6 million in American Rescue Act Plan funds at a legislative session on Tuesday night. By a unanimous vote of 7-0, Harrisburg City Council members agreed to Mayor Wanda Williams’ request for: $5.5 million to go towards funding an emergency replacement of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit for the public safety building. Funding $5,000 one-time bonuses to eligible city firefighters and police officers. The bonuses, which total $1.26 million, will go to members of the Harrisburg Bureaus of Fire and Police employed by the city before the start of 2022.The remaining $8.8 million approved by council on Tuesday will go towards revenue lost in 2021 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This money was already accounted for in the 2022 budget, passed in February.Mayor Wanda Williams issued a statement on her satisfaction with the council’s decision. “I want to sincerely thank city council for passing Bill 7 tonight, which helps pay for much needed and deserved funds for our police officers and fire bureau leaders out of the American Rescue Plan. We will get to work immediately on making sure our public safety building has a fully functioning heating and cooling system. Thank you also to Council for recognizing the life-saving work done by our firefighters and police officers over the last two years. The $5,000 bonuses we’ll now be able to give them is not only a ‘Thank you’ to them, but to their families. They put their lives on the line for us every day, and this is a small token of our appreciation.” The first round of funds passed is part of the $42 million proposed by Williams. The remaining funds will require separate legislation and council approval, which is expected to happen when council returns from its summer recess.
The Harrisburg City Council approved more than $15.6 million in American Rescue Act Plan funds at a legislative session on Tuesday night.
By a unanimous vote of 7-0, Harrisburg City Council members agreed to Mayor Wanda Williams’ request for:
- $5.5 million to go towards funding an emergency replacement of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit for the public safety building.
- Funding $5,000 one-time bonuses to eligible city firefighters and police officers.
- The bonuses, which total $1.26 million, will go to members of the Harrisburg Bureaus of Fire and Police employed by the city before the start of 2022.
The remaining $8.8 million approved by council on Tuesday will go towards revenue lost in 2021 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This money was already accounted for in the 2022 budget, passed in February.
Mayor Wanda Williams issued a statement on her satisfaction with the council’s decision.
“I want to sincerely thank city council for passing Bill 7 tonight, which helps pay for much needed and deserved funds for our police officers and fire bureau leaders out of the American Rescue Plan. We will get to work immediately on making sure our public safety building has a fully functioning heating and cooling system. Thank you also to Council for recognizing the life-saving work done by our firefighters and police officers over the last two years. The $5,000 bonuses we’ll now be able to give them is not only a ‘Thank you’ to them, but to their families. They put their lives on the line for us every day, and this is a small token of our appreciation.”
The first round of funds passed is part of the $42 million proposed by Williams.
The remaining funds will require separate legislation and council approval, which is expected to happen when council returns from its summer recess.
