The city could pay for the program by using federal funds it received from the American Rescue Plan Act. The city got $25 million from that act, a federal relief package addressing COVID-19.
McBride said half of those funds will come later in May. The other half will come in a year.
McBride also wants more city staff to get the vaccine, and the gift card proposal could help make that happen.
The specifics of the idea would be hashed out by the common council if it decides to pursue the idea.
It s using community outreach, mobile vaccine units, advertisements, social media and more to get there. Recent data shows over 65% of Wauwatosa residents ages 18 and older have received at least one dose of the vaccine.
The cities of Madison and Brookfield don t have a lot in common.
Even so, their mayors are joining together to call on the state to pump more money back into municipalities.
It s an issue Brookfield Mayor Steve Ponto cares deeply about. It s very important, I think, to have cities that are an attractive place to be, Ponto said. But I m afraid that some municipalities in Wisconsin are going to be in a period of decline, and I think that s bad for the state, ultimately, Ponto added.
Ponto isn t necessarily worried about his own city in the short term.
Brookfield has had lots of recent development. The tax base is large.