City leaders have until the end of 2024 to obligate use of the funds and until the end of 2026 to make final distributions. The city received its final installment of ARPA funds on June 30, bringing the total amount awarded to $1,653,886. “Due to current inflationary factors, this (bonus) would be valued by city staff in recognizing current circumstances,” he said. City Treasurer and Finance Director James Henderson estimated in August that the total cost of bonus payouts would be $90,000 based on employment levels at that time. Hill notes that such bonuses are an allowed use of state and local fiscal recovery funds under ARPA. The city would then separately execute letters of understanding with unionized employees to handle distributing bonuses to those staff members under the city’s collective bargaining agreements. According to Assistant City Manager Penny Hill, the bonuses would be distributed to 150 regular full-time employees of the city, including 40 Traverse City Light & Power employees and 22 Downtown Development Authority (DDA) employees. Nearly 200 city employees could receive $500 bonuses under a proposal to make one-time staff payments using city ARPA funds. Commissioners will also consider approving an updated “Complete Streets” policy – which emphasizes including safe and convenient access for all forms of transportation in street design decisions – and approving a previously-discussed new zoning ordinance that would give developers more freedom to include rooftop spaces on their buildings. Traverse City commissioners will vote tonight (Monday) to use some of the city’s $1.65 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to make a one-time salary bonus payment of $500 to all full-time city employees.

Employee Pay, Complete Streets, Rooftop Spaces On City Agenda By Beth Milligan

Dda employee salary slip