City Financials Still In Good Shape
Despite the national fears of an economic recession due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Florence is looking forward to returning to more prosperous times. the City Council got a review of the biennial budget on Monday night and according to Administrative services Director, Ann Baker, despite several down turns locally, the budget will still end the year with a surplus.
“In spite of the 1.2 million dollar revenue shortage…the city is expected to end this fiscal year with over 3 million dollars in an ending fund balance.”
Baker says that even with the reduction in room tax dollars, which is of concern, other areas are in much better shape. Baker says that despite the Florence Event Center being closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, they will have a positive ending balance for the fiscal year. Cost savings in the form of not hiring for current vacant positions, and some cutbacks have left the city, overall, in a good position. City Manager Erin Reynolds said despite the situation, the city is committed to economic development and will continue to work with partners like the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce to help our local businesses and develop a plan for creating more opportunities locally. Mayor Joe Henry in an email said that the city “for the most part is on track and the projections are pretty positive.”
Visitor Center Not Ready To Open
Lane County is in its first week of Phase 2, but there are still some entities that have not yet got back up and running at full force. Florence Area Chamber of Commerce Director Bettina Hannigan says that while they have volunteers manning the phones most days from 10 until 2 pm, they are not yet ready to open the doors. Hannigan says it is impossible to practice social distancing in the visitor Center due to the size of the facility. Hannigan says there has been a temporary reduction in paid staff hours as they learn more about how events will look going forward in the new paradigm.
COVID-19 Updates
66 new cases of the Coronavirus have been added to the state total according to the Oregon Health Authority. The new number of total cases is 4,988 and includes 5 new deaths. Three are from Marion County all male ages 60, 70, and 96 along with a 78 year old Multnomah county man and a 96 year old Clackamas County man. According to OHA all had underlying health conditions. Lane County remains at 80 known cases and has tested 14,181 individuals.
