Some area leaders discussed concerns Wednesday with State Representative Mike Marron about how the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting their communities. Marron had received some updated state budget projections earlier in the day….
{”What they said on the call today is that projections on county government – a lot of counties are looking at a revenue shortfall from 20 to 40-percent, which is significant. I mean that is huge,” said Marron. ”And trying to figure out how we’re going to deal with that – I think one of their priorities is allowing some sort of short term borrowing for county government.”}
Marron says it is projected the state has lost $2.7 billion dollars in expected revenues just over the past two months….
{”One-point-six billion dollars of that is in personal and corporate income taxes. Three-hundred-and-seventy-three million dollars of that is a decrease in sales tax. A-hundred-and-fifty-million dollars of (the loss is from) a decrease in lottery revenue. Fifty-seven-million dollars has decreased in revenue projections from casino and video gaming revenue, and seventy-seven million dollars from various other sources,” said Marron.}
Oakwood Mayor Clay Woodard was one of the leaders on the conference call with Representative Marron. Woodard says one of his concerns is internet access for Oakwood students….
{”We’re finding it more difficult for them to access the internet. Has there been any discussion on the state level to try to have a statewide – bring all that together where all these children would have access? It certainly makes sense they all maybe have a Chromebook,” said Mayor Woodard.}
Rantoul Village Administrator Scott Eisenhauer is worried about how the state’s budget picture could impact pension funding….
{”As the investments continue to lose money over the course of the year, if that amortization schedule isn’t delayed, we’re going to have significant impact on the tax levy come next year’s budget or property tax levy,” said Eisenhauer.}
Representative Marron heard concerns Wednesday about some small businesses that apparently don’t qualify for either state or federal assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic. Marron was told some of those businesses may not be able to hang on much longer if the stay-at-home order is extended.
