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Government

COVID Impact on Scott County Finances

Despite some extra expenses, the pandemic has not had a huge impact yet on Scott County's finances. Thursday night, David Farmer, Director of Budget and Administrative Services, reported to the county board.

He says the extra expenses include 150-200,000 dollars - for PPE, tele-technology, and additional costs for elections.  The county has also spent 750,000 dollars to help provide shelter for the homeless - for Family Resources, Salvation Army, and Humility Homes.

 "And we are funding that as public assistance because they are no longer able to use what's called "congregate sheltering" where they are all in one location in a group setting, in a bunk beds setting. And we've actually started to use hotels in the current situation."
State and federal grants will help pay for some of these costs.

On the revenue side, Farmer says sales taxes are stable, despite earlier estimates that they would suffer due to COVID-19. There's been no impact on property taxes so far, and after an initial drop in the spring, casino revenue is recovering. 

And as he begins working on the budget for the 2022 fiscal year, Farmer says Scott County will continue to be very conservative and as much as possible not depend on state and federal help. 

A native of Detroit, Herb Trix began his radio career as a country-western disc jockey in Roswell, New Mexico (“KRSY, your superkicker in the Pecos Valley”), in 1978. After a stint at an oldies station in Topeka, Kansas (imagine getting paid to play “Louie Louie” and “Great Balls of Fire”), he wormed his way into news, first in Topeka, and then in Freeport Illinois.