I’ve lost track, they were down to $2M, then the state said they couldn’t spend the money they way they designated it, and now I think they have $33.8M.The Personnel and Finance Committee will be meeting tomorrow and the only thing on their agenda is the COVID-19 money and how it should be spent before the end of the year. The money can’t be used to replace things the county is already budgeted for and it has to be related to COVID-19. 4 county board committees weighed in, and here’s their recommendations. Seems odd there are no public health related ideas (testing, contract tracing, PPE, etc.)
Environment, Agriculture and Natural Resources
- CSA support
- Farm to market support
- Second Harvest support
- Additional refrigeration at 2nd Harvest
- Increased funding for parks: open park bathrooms, convert to touchless water fountains/hands free amenities
- Camping opportunities, with necessary amenities
- Support to dairy‐‐avoid milk dumping
- Focus in intersectionality of COVID and environmental health
- Non EANR issue, yet a priority:
- Support for small businesses, with priority given to minority‐owned businesses
- Increased support is State Street area businesses
- Increased support for Latinx community
Public Works & Transportation
- Funding be used to install no‐touch water fountains at any and all county facilities and parks.
- Expand rural broadband throughout our county as it is important for our more socially distant neighbors in the rural areas to be able to perform work or school duties like those in more populated areas. Also, in some respects this could be considered a covid‐19 issue as it is putting one portion of the population at risk of losing their job or education by not having access to the internet. It disproportionately singles out a portion of our population that doesn’t have access to information on the internet that is readily available and could provide medical information instead of having to wait to see if the information they request is said on the radio or news station.
Personnel & Finance
- Support for Non‐Profits & Churches (Stubbs) (For particular services or for employment retention?)
- Provide assistance to Dane County voters required to ensure that a voter can cast a vote and have it counted during this COVID pandemic. Assistance to include: helpline, translation service, and transportation. ~$34,200
Health and Human Needs Committee
- Mental Health Supports through Telehealth Services
- Criminal Justice/Juvenile Detention home monitoring
- Mentorship programs
- Domestic Violence support
- Utility assistance ‐ Men’s Shelter
- Rapid rehousing/case management for people housed in hotels
- Assistance with food insecurities
- Assisting people with transportation to the Alliant Energy Center for COVID testing Members are encouraged to work on proposals that expand existing partnerships rather than create new programs.
