Faced with the possible loss of millions of dollars, the city of Rock Island wants the federal government to help. Monday night the city council will vote on a resolution asking that future COVID-19 relief bills provide direct financial help to local governments.
Mayor Mike Thoms says Rock Island has already lost about three million dollars in just the past two months.
"One of the largest ones is the casino - they generate around 350,000 dollars a month for the city of Rock island, to the tune of about about 4.1 million dollars a year."
Other revenue sources that are suffering include the sale tax, food and beverage tax, and various fines and utility fees.
Mayor Thoms says ideally a relief bill would restore all of Rock Island's lost revenue.
"I don't know the exact number for the city of Rock Island, whether it's part or half of it . I don't know if there's a magic number, just helping some."
The lost revenue has meant Rock Island has not been able to hire replacements for some important open jobs, including the director of economic development, city clerk, and several police officers.
Once it's approved by the city council, he'll forward the resolution to Illinois's two US Senators and members of Congress.
