Yates County manages budget, virus response

Yates County manages budget, virus response

YATES COUNTY--County officials say careful budgetary planning has resulted in confidence no further furloughs or staff changes will occur this year due to the $2-$4 million budgetary shortfall created by the COVID-19 pandemic. While the county still adjusts the budget for this year, departments are already planning for next year's budget where there is hope no major services will be cut.
"After we came up with a plan for the public health impact, then we started working on the fiscal plan for the county," Yates County Administrator Nonie Flynn said. "We did a lot of things to cut back on at least $2 million, voluntary temporary layoffs, cut any capital plans for this year, all conferences and travel and any expenditure over $1,000 had to be approved by me. So hopefully, depending on what the state does with aid we should be OK for this year."
As it stands, much is dependent on how much state aid will be provided due to statewide budgetary shortfalls and the ongoing question about federal support.
"We are [planning] on a 20 percent cut (or less) which would result in a shortfall of about $2 million," Flynn said.
With cuts being made early on, Flynn added the county is OK right now.
"We tackled this pretty early on, so hopefully that sets us up for later on," Flynn stated.
Tax revenue has been steady since the Finger Lakes region reopened, signaling at least a partial recovery locally.
"Right now we aren't just dealing with the budgetary shortfall for this year," Flynn mentioned. "We are also in the process of developing a budget for next year, which is going to be tight."
Juggling the two has been a difficult process according to Flynn.
"First it was the health concerns, then how do we survive fiscally? We had been working at 50 percent staff and then had to reopen in a way to comply with new guidelines," Flynn said. "We developed a reopening plan that took a lot of work and making sure employees understood all the guidelines. All our departments are open but mostly by appointment only."
Calling the county the boots on the ground in the fight against the pandemic, Flynn said the county has been in a constant state of change as it adapts to the pandemic.
"One of the things I am most proud of is that throughout all of this we kept the county building open and serving the public," Flynn stated.
While the guidelines are issued by the state and federal government, those guidelines are instituted by the county.
"This is costing us a lot of time and a reduction in some of the purchases we planned on making," Flynn added. "But we haven't reduced any of our services and that is really important because we take our role as public servants very seriously."
Flynn said she is also in the early stages of putting together the budget for 2021.
"All department heads submitted their budgets by July 31 and right now I am in the process of going over them. (Once other budgetary factors are addressed) a full presentation will be made to the legislature in October and (will be voted on) in November," Flynn said.