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The City of Berea has received a little over $500,000 in funds through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES ACT).
The law was passed by the U.S. House and Senate and signed into law in March. The funds are distributed by the county and can cover only those expenses incurred because of the public health emergency.
That has been some help to the City’s budget, which had to be trimmed as we anticipate lower revenues from income and property taxes during the pandemic.
We have been managing our expenditures well during this difficult time. As of the beginning of June, our General Fund expenditures were $900,000 below revenue. We've been able to maintain this trend. Therefore, we are staying ahead of the economic curve and trying our best to manage your tax dollars. However, the future is still very uncertain.
Many of you have read about some neighboring communities that reduced police and fire services or wages. We have not done that in Berea. Our safety and service personnel have not been given pay-cuts, furlough days, nor have we reduced staffing levels.
All other employees, including myself, took a 5.3 percent pay cut to alleviate the financial stress caused by COVID. By doing so, and with an additional $2 million in budget cuts, we were able to maintain all of our full-time employees and ensure our safety and service workers could keep their pay and their normal schedules.
Municipal Court employees, including the judge and clerk of court, also took pay cuts to help offset loss of revenue.
These are unusual and stressful times for all of us. As you have had to adjust your household expenditures, so has the City. But at the same time, we strive to maintain basic services. Some City workers have taken on new roles. You may see some City Hall employees delivering Dinner to Your Door or running errands for seniors, for example.
Cutting expenses has meant canceling summer concerts at Coe Lake, closing the outdoor pool, canceling the Grindstone Festival. Changes have affected all of us. Church services are online. Many workers are working from home, including City Hall employees. Even the 30th Berea Arts Fest will be virtual this year.
We have to keep reminding ourselves that this is temporary. Be patient. Wear a mask. Keep socially distant. The sooner we get the coronavirus under control, the sooner we get back to business, back to having fun in groups, back to being us.
