-- Watseka preparing for new Fiscal Year in May --

Mayors of Champaign, Rockford, Joliet, Aurora, Springfield, and Waukegan are among many discussing possible plans for economic recovery in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The six mayors gathered on a tele-conference call to talk about how their cities are handling the pandemic. Topics discussed included budget deficits, changes to the stay-at-home order, and ways municipalities can help their citizens. The mayors involved represent nearly 800-thousand Illinois residents.

In Watseka – Mayor John Allhands says the effects of the pandemic on city finances is up in the air at this point. The loss of sales tax revenues could certainly mount as the stay-at-home order continues and businesses can’t open.

There’s different parts of city operations that’d have to be reviewed to see how future finances may be effected. Allhands said once things start to return to something near normal, there’s also the question of how the city may be able to help jump-start the local economy.

94.1 WGFA