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Franklin County officials are desperately looking for ways to offset reduced spending and declining tax revenues in the wake of the lingering COVID-19 pandemic.
County board members recently met to discuss the issue, weighing what steps could be taken to keep things afloat given Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s stay-at-home order shuttering all businesses not deemed by the state to be essential through the end of May.
“We need some cash infusion pretty quickly,” County Treasurer Steve Vercellino told The Southern while announcing a proposed tax anticipation warrant that would allow the county to borrow against anticipated tax revenue.
Board member Larry Miller warned personnel changes could be required if savings aren’t found soon and implemented to balance the shortfalls.
“We’ve not made any adjustments whatsoever,” he said.
Faced with similar concerns, Williamson County officials recently moved to furlough nearly 50 workers as part of a plan to offset a projected double-digit tax revenue shortfall stemming from the crisis
Board member Ron Ellis said the choice was whether to furlough employees now or make up the lost revenue next budget year with budget cuts and layoffs.
In Franklin County, the balancing act is made even more difficult by board members having to factor in the recently approved sales tax increase to support the building of a new courthouse. Residents signed off in April 2019 on a 1% tax increase to build the courthouse.
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