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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 2, 2020)
NEWS/COMMUNITY A10 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM Hermiston still trying to compensate for COVID-19 losses Revenues decrease, lowering city’s reserves in 2020 By JADE MCDOWELL NEWS EDITOR The pandemic contin- ues to disrupt the city of Hermiston’s fi nances, as the city’s ending fund bal- ance in October was below the minimum reserve level set by the city council. The council previously adopted the minimum reserve policy requiring at least $1,867,650 in its general fund at all times. But in September, the fund dipped below that amount while the city was wait- ing to be reimbursed by the CARES Act for money it had spent on COVID- 19 relief for residents and businesses. During its Monday, Nov. 23, meet- ing, Finance Director Mark Krawcyzk said it happened again in October by $309,000. Krawcyzk said from March to June the city had about $750,000 less reve- nue than projected due to the effects of COVID-19. He said the city was able to spend about $250,000 less than planned by tell- ing departments to only spend on “mission critical” items, but that still left the city with about $500,000 less than expected. Krawcyzk said he and City Manager Byron Smith had been putting policies in place to help the city keep its mini- mum reserve up during the “skinny months” of Sep- tember and October before property taxes start com- ing in in November. “COVID wrecked our plans,” he said. “It is not because we weren’t pre- pared. I believe we were. But nobody saw COVID coming.” He said there were things they can do in the coming months to bet- ter compensate for the ongoing effects of the pandemic. Mayor David Drotz- mann said the point of the minimum reserve level set by the council was to ensure that if something catastrophic happened, like COVID-19, the city still had plenty of money in its account to pay its bills. That cushion seemed like it worked in the past two months, he said. “The intent of the min- imum reserve is to create a rainy day fund, and it’s hard to argue it’s not rain- ing this year,” he said. He said the import- ant thing now is to look at how the city will help it not happen going for- ward, and how the city will rebuild its reserves to a higher level as the econ- omy recovers. Smith said city staff are working hard to come up with solutions, but if the pandemic causes a signifi - cant reduction in property taxes for the year, it could mean a reduction in staff for the city. “Depending on the impact of property taxes, if we have to look at sig- nifi cant expense reduc- tion we’re going to have to start looking at people, and so that will be on the table as we start looking a the budget coming into April, May, June of next year,” he said. In other fi nancial news, the city received a clean fi nancial audit, conducted by Barnett & Moro, with no material weaknesses found. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2020 Hermiston Kiwanis Club sells Christmas trees Ben Lonergan/Hermiston Herald Mike Henderson, left, measures a tree at the Hermiston Kiwanis Club Christmas tree lot as Diana Henderson supports it on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020. United Way to distribute emergency food, shelter funds HERMISTON HERALD The United Way of the Blue Mountains has been chosen to receive fund- ing for Phase 38 under the Emergency Food and Shel- ter Program (EFSP) to sup- plement emergency food and shelter programs. Umatilla County will receive $31,679 for Phase 38, according to a news release. The selection was made by a national board that is chaired by the U.S. Depart- ment of Homeland Secu- rity’s Federal Emergency Management Agency and consists of representatives from American Red Cross; Catholic Charities, USA; National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA; The Jewish Federa- tions of North America; The Salvation Army; and United Way Worldwide. The local board was charged to distrib- ute funds appropriated by Congress to help expand the capacity of food and shelter programs in high-need areas around the country. The local EFSP board will determine how funds awarded are to be distrib- uted among emergency food and shelter programs run by local service agencies in the area. Under the terms of the grant from the national board, local agencies cho- sen to receive funds must be private voluntary nonprof- its or units of government; be eligible to receive federal funds; have an accounting system; practice nondiscrim- ination; have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food and/or shel- ter programs; and, if they are a private voluntary organiza- tion, they must have a vol- untary board. Program funds are used to provide the fol- lowing, as determined by the local board in funded jurisdictions: • Food, in the form of served meals or groceries/ food boxes • Lodging in a mass shel- ter or hotel • One month’s rent or mortgage payment • One month’s utility bill In keeping with the emer- gency nature of this award, completed applications must be submitted to christy@ uwbluemt.org or completed online at www.uwbluemt. org/EFSP no later than 5 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020. EASTERN OREGON marketplace Place classified ads online at www.easternoregonmarketplace.com or call 1-800-962-2819 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. After hours, leave a voicemail and we’ll confirm your ad the next business day. Email us at classifieds@ eastoregonian.com or fax: 541-278-2680 East Oregonian Deadline is 3 p.m. the day before publication 211 S.E. Byers Ave. 333 E. Main St. We accept: Pendleton, OR 97801 Hermiston, OR 97838 See www.easternoregonmarketplace.com for classified ads from all over Eastern Oregon EAST OREGONIAN • HERMISTON HERALD • BLUE MOUNTAIN EAGLE • WALLOWA COUNTY CHIEFTAIN MED CAL DIRECTORY ASSISTED LIVING DENTIST COMPREHENSIVE CARE A better way to oral health FAMILY MEDICINE/URGENT CARE HERMISTON FAMILY MEDICINE & URGENT CARE Family Care • Minor Injuries Sports Physicals Minor Surgeries 541-567-1137 Ryan M. Wieseler, D.D.S., PC We accept Medicare & some Advantage Medicare plans 995 Orchard Ave., Hermiston 236 E. Newport., Hermiston (across from U.S. Bank) Mon.-Thurs. 8am-5pm • Friday 8am-3pm NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY MENTAL HEALTH PEDIATRIC DENTIST “LET US BE THE ONE TO HELP” • Adult, child & family therapy • Psychiatric evaluation & treatment • Mental health & crisis services • Confidential and professional care CRISIS PHONE: 866-343-4473 331 SE 2nd St., Pendleton 541-276-6207 595 NW 11th St., Hermiston 541-567-2536 WWW.LIFEWAYS.ORG Put your business in today for only CALL TODAY! $50 A MONTH! 541-289-5433 1060 W. Elm, Suite #115 Hermiston PUBLISHES IN THE EO, HH & EO MARKETPLACE WEEKLY! hermistonkidsdentist.com Contact Your Sales Rep Today! (across from Good Shepherd Medical Center) Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-4pm Hermiston & surrounding areas Kelly : 541-564-4531 Pendleton & surrounding areas Angela : 541-966-0827
