The coronavirus pandemic has dramatically affected local economies across the country, after many businesses needed to shut their doors in order to slow the spread of the virus.
Because of the pandemic, Monroe County Executive Adam Bello says the county is projecting a budget shortfall between 68 and 122 million dollars. This is mainly because of a the sudden drop in sales tax and hotel tax revenues, plus a drop in state aid all cause by the coronavirus shutdown.
Bello says like the state, the county needs federal aid. He says Congressman Joe Morelle is co-sponsoring legislation that would help provide direct aid to local governments from the CARES Act funding, allowing them to tap some of the funding they've already received for fighting COVID-19.
Bello says the county received 129 million dollars from the CARES Act and has used some of the money to purchase PPE -- including the face masks that were recently distributed to county residents.