Mpls. has spent less than a quarter of $63M in stimulus

The city of Minneapolis is spending federal stimulus money at a slower pace than most recipients. City officials say as of the end of June, the city has spent less than a quarter of the more than $63 million it's received through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Officials updated the city council on stimulus spending. Some council members wanted to know why the city's rate of spending was slightly below the national average.

City staff reported that many of the most expensive projects involve lengthy infrastructure improvements and will take longer to complete. They say construction on the projects had to wait until Spring to start -- while cities in warmer climates broke ground earlier.

City staff also say federal stimulus funds have helped nearly 700 people find work during the second quarter of the year. They say most of the jobs are permanent and have an average wage of nearly $20 per hour.