Benton Harbor City Commissioners have voted to move $3 million in federal ARPA funds into other city funds to make up for lost revenue due to COVID-19. Speaking at a Tuesday meeting, Mayor Marcus Muhammad said ARPA is intended to help communities recover from COVID, and the transfer to make up for lost revenue qualifies.
“So this three million dollars will allow Benton Harbor to operate, pay our bills, until we get our summers taxes this August and as things normalize, then we’ll be able to live to fight another day,” Muhammad said,
Muhammad said the transfer will allow the city to pay vendors and continue providing services to residents. $2.5 million will be moved to the city’s general fund and $500,000 to the utility services fund. Voting no were Commissioners Mary Alice Adams, Juanita Henry, and Ethel Clark Griffin.
