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The pandemic has ravaged the economy. That affects families, jobs and City finances too.
As residents have taken precautions to deal with the consequences of limited revenue, the City of Berea took measures to cut back on expenses and limit spending. We completed only those projects for which we had grant funding.
So far, the City is in pretty good shape. We didn’t lay off any full-time employees and we were able to maintain basic services.
We did receive $1.4 million in federal CARES funding and that along with City funds enabled us to restore 5 percent pay cuts to City employees and give $1,000 in hazard pay to police officers, firefighters, service department workers and other essential city employees. We also provided a second round of grants to local businesses. We invested in PPE and sanitizing equipment for City buildings.
We also received another rebate from the Bureau of Workers Compensation that amounted to $827,000. And another CARES package might be forthcoming.
As you know, things change daily, so we’re not out of the woods yet. But I’m hoping that some of the programs we cut back on or skipped in 2020, we can tackle in 2021.
In 2020, we completed the resurfacing of West Street from Prospect to the City limits with Olmsted Falls. Phase 2 of the North End Sewer Rehabilitation project got under way. Tamarack and parts of Edgewood were resurfaced. The railroad bridge over North Rocky River Drive was repaired. Those projects were fully or partially funded by grants and no-interest loans.
This year, I’m hoping we can get back to some semblance of normalcy and to resume our usual spending on infrastructure improvements. The City’s 2021 budget must be filed with the state before the end of March. As usual, it will be flexible enough to allow for increased spending if that becomes appropriate.
I’m optimistic but cautious. Defeating COVID is linked to the economy. Jobs, pay checks, manufacturing, production won’t come back until COVID is under control. Recovery of the economy and defeat of the virus will take time.
Let’s make sure 2021 is the year of the comeback.
