DETROIT – Wayne County officials project the county’s revenue will be down at least $152 million due to coronavirus (COVID-19).
Executive Warren C. Evans announced Tuesday that the deficit could be more than 20 percent of the county’s projected revenues.
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Evans said he was working with officials to update the two-year budget forecast that will assess every fund and department as well as evaluated potential investment losses in pension and other post-employment benefit plans.
The county is also looking at opportunities to restore funding through federal and state aid.
The framework for the county’s post-coronavirus recovery plan includes:
- Tapping funds from the accumulated budget surplus/Rainy Day Fund and possibly the Delinquent Tax Revolving Fund
- Deferring capital expenditures and renegotiating existing leases
- Workforce reductions are a possibility though no current reductions have been identified
“Our main focus remains fighting the coronavirus spread as a public health matter. However, the county’s long-term health requires proactively planning for budget shortfalls created by this pandemic,” Evans. said “I am committed to working with other elected officials and the commission on fiscally-responsible solutions that allow us to continue providing essential services to our residents. Over the past five years, we have put our financial house back in order, but the on-going global pandemic and Stay Home orders are putting a tremendous strain on the county’s ability to fund essential services at current levels.”