The scope of the financial impact to the city of Emporia due to the COVID-19 pandemic is beginning to become clearer for Emporia City Commissioners.
Commissioners received their most recent financial update during their recent study session Wednesday morning. According to City Treasurer Janet Harouff, the city is looking at significant reductions for multiple funds through the remainder of the year.
This includes a $300,000 deficit in the general fund, putting it under its 15 percent reserve level. Harouff says this reduction is directly related to reductions elsewhere.
Harouff says there is an option that commissioners can explore to help offset losses to other funds. She explains if commissioners decided to hold off on major city projects the city could see a potential $1.5 million in savings for the multi-year fund as those dollars are only utilized for funding infrastructure projects.
Harouff explains commissioners could then approve re-allocating those savings to help offset losses elsewhere. However; she says this action would be a “darned if you do, darned if you don’t scenario” as it would mean holding off on infrastructure projects which could potentially lead to more significant issues arising in the future.
According to Harouff, at this time “commissioners, are not willing to make the decision” to re-allocate dollars from the multi-year fund.
In other business, commissioners discussed guidelines for the opening of the Jone’s Aquatic Center this summer. At this time there is no operations agreement in place between the city of Emporia and the Emporia Recreation Commission for the 2020 season as both commissions have forgone moving forward with the agreement amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to City Manager Mark McAnarney, the timeline for the pool’s opening depends heavily on if Governor Laura Kelly approves moving into phase two of the Ad Astra state recovery plan, as anticipated on Monday, and if any additional guidelines or restrictions are announced which would hinder the aquatic center’s opening. Emporia Recreation Commission Director Tom McEvoy adds the commission is in the process of reviewing past financial records to determine whether or not opening the pool would be financially feasible.
According to McEvoy the average daily cost to the ERC for staffing of the aquatic center alone is $855 per day. According to McAnarney, historically the operational cost for the city has averaged between $100,000 to $125,000 depending on required maintenance.
Discussions on the topic will continue during the Emporia Recreation Commission’s monthly meeting on Monday.
Separately, commissioners also discussed the city’s continued involvement in the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation’s emergency solutions grant as a pass-through recipient agency and the vacation of county road segments at the Emporia Municipal Airport.
The Emporia City Commission will reconvene next Wednesday for an action session which will be viewable on the commission’s Facebook page.
