The City of Greenville and Washington County are both still reeling from what has been a financially challenging past six weeks.
Both local entities discussed hazard pay recently in their respective meetings and the county BOS unanimously voted to provide a month’s hazard pay for county employees at their last regular meeting.
However, a common denominator has been the lack of gaming revenues and the impact it has had on the city and county’s finances.
The city’s external financial consultant Steve Osso said the gaming revenues had been coming in at around $100,000 or more.
“The check we just received was under $600, so our gaming revenues went from $100,000-plus to $600 for the month of April,” he said. “That’s a big time hit.”
Osso also highlighted sales tax as another key revenue stream that has taken a downturn due to restaurants, hotels and the like being closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
It was brought to the council’s attention at their last regular meeting revenue from utilities (water) was significantly low as well, mainly due to residents not keeping their bills current.
Municipal court’s revenues have paled in comparison to previous months as well, according to clerk Priscilla Bush.
Bush said during the amnesty period, the court received around $45,000.
“Only bringing in $14,000 for the month of April wasn’t good at all,” she said, noting a $20,000 to $30,000 difference compared to the previous months.
On a more optimistic note, Bush said the court is up from where it was during the month of April so far this month.
“We do have online payment and a lot of customers make their payments online, that is where the bulk of it is coming from. Sometimes we collect between $1,400 and $1,600 in online payments along with those mailed in,” she said.
County administrator Chelesa Carter said by the casinos being shut down, they are no longer getting the “would be” revenue from gaming fees.
BOS president Carl McGee said recently there has been some decrease in tag fees and property taxes.
“Anytime you limit access to the place where those bills are paid, there’s going to be an impact,” he said.
