Valparaiso continues making financial arrangements for some large-scale projects.
The city council last week agreed to issue up to $27 million in bonds for the planned Sports and Recreation Complex, plus another $5.8 million for the related Memorial Parkway extension. Council members also agreed to move forward with up to $23 million in water infrastructure improvements, including four new production wells.
Council member Robert Cotton asked if the city could use some of its unspent American Rescue Plan money to offset the cost passed along to residents. "I think that it would be a very smart move, a very humanistic and tone-alert indication for us to say, well, you know, this is qualified, it's textbook-delineated in ARPA that funds can be used for enhancing your water and sewer type of infrastructure," Cotton said.
He said a recent hearing over NIPSCO's proposed electric rate hike highlighted the struggle some residents are facing with rising costs.
All of Valparaiso's ARPA money has already been allocated, but the council could decide to amend the ARPA plan. Council members are expected to get an update on what parts of the plan have unspent funds, by the next meeting.
