Forced use of ARPA funds | Bethany White for Ward 1

With Better Financial Stewardship and Collaboration

In 2023, our City Council voted to override Mayor DaSilva’s veto and committed $2.5 million of flexible ARPA funds to Police Headquarters renovations, even though the department’s own federally restricted account was eligible for the work and held millions.

$5.96MFederal-forfeiture balance entering FY2023

$2.50MFlexible city ARPA funds committed to renovations

$4.93MFederal-forfeiture balance still reported at FY2023 year-end

Timeline

July 17, 2023The mayor’s administration advanced an ARPA-supported 62,000-square-foot Community Center with a pool, gym, programming and office space, recreation, job training, health services, and youth activities.
Sept. 12City Council approved $2.5 million in flexible city ARPAfor Police Headquarters renovations.
AfterwardMayor DaSilva vetoed the police appropriation.
Sept. 26City Council voted 5–0 to override the veto , even though the police-controlled federal account reported millions available and police facilities were an eligible use.
Nov. 14Frank Rego objected that projected operating costs had not been supplied and joined the unanimous vote to table the proposed $5 million Community Center appropriation.
Dec. 5City Council approved only $3 million for the Community Center, a $2 million reduction from the larger proposal. Rego sponsored and voted for the reduced appropriation.
Nov. 12, 2024City Council authorized an additional $453,196.84 from Federal Asset Forfeiture Funds for Police Headquarters furnishings, storage units, and related items from WB Mason.
May 20, 2025City Council approved another $130,379.70 from Federal Asset Forfeiture Funds for additional Police Headquarters renovation work. Rego made the motion; it passed 4–0.
LaterThe project received another $275,000 from City Capital for “unanticipated costs.” The two forfeiture authorizations and City Capital addition totaled $858,576.54 beyond the $2.5 million ARPA appropriation.

The name and function of the department are irrelevant. What matters is how City Council made the decision.

For Example: If City Hall had a Department called Offices, and that department had ~$5MM in money they can only spend on supplies, we would never imagine using one-time community funds to buy even more supplies for that department. We would say: "Use the ~$5MM budget you already have that is specifically meant for your supplies. In fact, it can only be used by you and for you. So, please Buy your own supplies with your multi-million dollar supplies budget that only you are allowed to use."

The Police Department had millions available in an eligible police-controlled fund. City Council used flexible ARPA money anyway—money that could have built something for the entire community.

Why the Community Center decision matters →

How we know: East Providence Police’s DOJ Equitable Sharing Agreement and Certification reports a $5,959,076.85 prior-year balance and a $4,932,838.56 FY2023 ending balance. City Council records separately identify $453,196.84 for headquarters furnishings and storage and $130,379.70 for additional renovation work as Federal Asset Forfeiture Fund expenditures. Those two authorizations total $583,576.54. With the later $275,000 City Capital addition, the documented additions beyond ARPA total $858,576.54. City records also document the Community Center plan, police appropriation, veto override, and reduced Community Center appropriation. This comparison does not claim money was formally transferred from the Community Center to police; it shows the documented choice among uses of a finite pool of flexible ARPA funding.
Primary records: DOJ Equitable Sharing data · DOJ Equitable Sharing guide · July 17 Community Center plan · Sept. 12 Council docket · Sept. 26 Council record · Nov. 14 Council record · Nov. 14 meeting video · City confirmation of $3 million appropriation · Nov. 12 furnishings resolution · May 20 renovation change order.