Benton Harbor’s Utilities Service Fund will be bolstered by $1.8 million in federal ARPA funds following action Monday by the Benton Harbor City Commission.
Mayor Marcus Muhammad said the city needs to shore up the fund to recover from COVID related losses so capital improvement projects can be funded. He said this is not to give residents more credits on their water bills.
“These are other expenses and bills, contractors and vendors that have to be paid,” Muhammad said. “The American Rescue Plan Act was designed and is designed to help cities, counties, municipalities to address the loss of revenue.”
Muhammad said this is an approved use of ARPA dollars that cities across the state are doing.
Commissioner Ethel Clark Griffin voted no because she wanted an itemized list of how the dollars will be used, while Commissioner Juanita Henry voted against the move because she said the state has not been clear with residents about whether the water is safe to drink. The rest of the commission voted yes.
