Flint Mayor’s Advisory Panel Faces Legal Scrutiny Over Federal Fund Allocation
The Michigan Court of Appeals has recently cast doubt on the legality of a panel established by Flint’s mayor, which was designed to provide guidance on the allocation of significant federal funds. This development raises questions about adherence to the city’s governance policies.
Flint was allocated a substantial $94.7 million from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The advisory panel, orchestrated by the mayor, was tasked with formulating advice on how to effectively utilize a segment of these funds.
Notably, the panel was known for holding some of its discussions behind closed doors at the Flint Public Library. The appeals court found that the panel’s creation might contravene a section of the Flint city charter. However, claims that the panel’s private meetings breached Michigan’s Open Meetings Act were dismissed by the court.
This court decision overturns an earlier ruling that had sided with Flint’s municipal authorities. Flint City Councilwoman Tonya Burns, who initiated the lawsuit against the advisory panel in 2023, has expressed ongoing concerns regarding the decision-making process related to the fund allocation.
“There are some questions as to, are we having any violations with those ARPA funds,” Burns remarked to reporters, “Some of these groups never applied. We have a spreadsheet. They’re not on there.”
Mayor Sheldon Neeley has refrained from commenting directly on the appellate court’s determination. Nonetheless, his office issued a statement expressing disagreement with the ruling and signaled intentions to contest it further.
The mayor’s office emphasized its commitment to “transparency, community engagement and using … ARPA funds in a way that meets the needs and priorities of Flint residents.”
Currently, it remains uncertain how much of the $94.7 million in ARPA funds has been expended, how much remains appropriated but unspent, or how much is still available for allocation. Unspent funds from ARPA were moved to Flint’s general fund in the previous year.
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