Mayor Kapszukiewicz Releases Toledo Recovery Plan Proposal Built on Feedback from Public Meetings, Survey
Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz released his plan today for how the City of Toledo should invest the $180.9 million it received from the American Rescue Plan passed by Congress in February. Labeled the Toledo Recovery Plan, the proposal makes historic investments in public safety, neighborhoods, blight removal, housing, infrastructure improvements, job creation and youth programming.
“Every Toledoan from every neighborhood of our city will benefit from this plan,” Mayor Kapszukiewicz said. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make investments that will improve Toledo for generations to come.”
The Mayor emphasized that the plan was built by collecting public input at a series of neighborhood meetings and from opinion surveys. Each of the proposals was aligned with public support expressed by Toledoans over the course of several months.
“We listened to the people of Toledo, and this plan was built by what we heard,” Mayor Kapszukiewicz said. “The public meetings and surveys determined what programs and projects we decided to fund.”
The entire plan is available at Toledo.oh.gov/recovery. Some highlights include:
- Nearly 100 additional police officers, growing Toledo’s police force to its largest level in 20 years;
- $40.5 million for youth programming, summer jobs, and other youth initiatives;
- Replacing every private lead service line in the City of Toledo;
- Construction of a brand new YMCA in the central city;
- Construction of 500 units of housing;
- Demolition of hundreds of commercial and residential buildings;
- Millions to fight blight, fix sidewalks, improve parks, plant trees and create jobs.
The first half of the funds were received by The City of Toledo in May of this year. The second half is expected in May of 2022. In June of this year, Mayor Kapszukiewicz launched a series of community meetings and conversations to better understand and identify the needs of the community. A survey was also launched to collect feedback. As a result of this request for information, clear community priorities emerged.
The priorities were:
- Safe and livable neighborhoods
- Youth, recreation and parks
- Job creation and economic impact
- Avoiding cuts to city services
- Green and healthy housing
In addition, the federal legislation has spending requirements on how, where and for whom the allocated dollars can be invested. Very generally, these are:
- Municipal Revenue Loss
- Water, Sewer, and broadband infrastructure
- Premium pay
- Responding to the public health emergency and its economic impacts
More information on the American Rescue plan can be found at Toledo.oh.gov/recovery.
The primary areas of expenditures under the Toledo Recovery Plan are as follows:
- $80.9 million: avoiding cuts to city services / growing size of safety forces
- $40.5 million: investment in youth recreation and parks
- $24 million: green and healthy housing
- $19.3 million: safe and livable neighborhoods
- $15.2 million: job creation and economic development
- $1 million: program administration
The proposal now goes to Toledo City Council, who will first consider the ordinance at its meeting of October 26th.
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