Committee keeps resolution in committee, requests CFO reports on senior APA spending and ARPA allocations

The Ways and Means Committee voted Feb. 22 to keep in committee a resolution asking the administration to evaluate spending on ongoing senior APA programs until the CFO provides requested information.

Councilors asked the city CFO for records on how small‑business grants were spent and whether grant recipients file reports; CFO Eric Demas said record‑keeping requirements exist and that he would forward reports to councilors as they become available. A councilor said one business that received a grant left the premises after receiving funding; Demas said he had made requests for the reports and would follow up.

Councilors also sought explanation for an $800,000 job assistance line item and raised concerns about program outcomes for youth summer programming. Demas said he would consult the responsible department and provide details. The CFO provided rough ARPA figures in response to a question: he said Everett received about $12 million in direct allocations and an additional $33 million after state advocacy, and estimated roughly $20 million remained uncommitted (he characterized the figure as a rough estimate).

On outreach and future funding, Demas said a subrecipient program for community grants (including possible public arts funding) will be publicized soon and posted on the ARPA dashboard. The committee voted to keep the resolution in committee pending the CFO’s follow‑up.