Summit County Council members on April 22nd were briefed on Round Two of adjustments to their budget for 2020, in response to the economic impacts from the coronavirus outbreak and lockdown.
Their Chief Financial Officer, Matt Leavitt, detailed cuts to the budget now coming to $7.1 million.
Leavitt and County Manager Tom Fisher told the Council that they have made some $5 million in spending cuts for the county’s operation.
In addition, Leavitt said, the County Health Department did not receive some $2.1 million in grants it had applied for. The County Manager clarified that the funds, for substance abuse and mental-health treatment, will be spent locally. But the money went directly to service providers, rather than go through the county.
The budget cuts included a hiring freeze on up to 30 vacant positions at the county; not going through with some Class B road projects; not making a contribution this year to their fund balance, and cutbacks on material, supplies and trips for staffers.
During the budget discussion, Fisher also referred to this summer’s County Fair. He said it’s going to be a lot different from the traditional event at Coalville City Park.
“At best, we’re gonna be modifying the Fair tremendously. I don’t know exactly what that means yet, but I think it’s gonna be geatly reduced as far as having public events. A lot of things are gonna move Virtual that still need to get done in regards to the Fair. We’ll know more in the next week.”
Council Member Kim Carson said she wants to retain the agricultural events for county youngsters.
“I think it’s really important that we figure out some way to continue the livestock show in some capacity. It may look very different. Over the course of a few weeks, maybe you get, do individual events at a time, instead of kind of having everybody there at once, and do it via, bidding via video, or have it—(Fisher) Yeah, the 4-H-type events, probably there is a Virtual solution to that, plus the animal sale at the end. And I know people are already talking about that. (Carson) I know that money is incredibly important to those kids. A lot of em, that’s their college fund.”
Fisher said the customary events that draw large crowds likely won’t take place.
“Although those are culturally very important to our county, under the current conditions and what we know about what’s coming, for the rest of the summer, probably are not gonna be allowed. So we’re gonna have to rethink that. Anyway, we’ve already got people working on it.”
Summit County Manager Tom Fisher. The budget changes will come back to the Council for a vote at their meeting April 29th.
