After passing a motion to update the town of Elon’s budget with the coronavirus relief funds, the town of Elon Board of Alderman discussed an increase in sales tax revenue in the month of June, reopening playgrounds and the possibility of a citizen’s advisory committee to town of Elon Police at their September regular session.
At the agenda setting meeting last week board members discussed budget adjustments involving the over $140,000 in coronavirus relief funds provided to the town of Elon from Alamance County. These funds must be used before Dec. 31. Town Manager Richard Roedner said last week that some of the money is proposed to be used to purchase masks for residents, and the budget will be adjusted based on the “changing needs” in the future.
Finance Director for the town of Elon Misty Hagood said the town is in good financial standing and has enough money “for now.”
While the town’s sales tax revenue began decreasing in March due to the coronavirus pandemic, the town’s revenue from this June compared to last June is up 17%. Roedner said that is $50,000 that the town had not budgeted for, and will count as the first sales tax receipt that will count towards this fiscal year.
“Since the start of the pandemic in March, we have been keeping a close eye on revenues,” Roedner said. “We took a fairly conservative approach to upcoming revenues. What’s actually turned out was that … the decrease in sales tax was relatively small.”
Following Gov. Roy Cooper’s announcement of North Carolina moving into phase 2.5 of coronavirus reopening, the town of Elon went to what Roedner referred to as “phase 2.4,” since the town declared a state of emergency to keep gatherings limited.
This week the town of Elon will be working on protocols for opening up playgrounds and basketball courts. Roedner said while pavilions, dog parks and grounds have been open, Cooper's order now allows the town to open playgrounds as well. The town currently does not have the equipment necessary to open safely, such as disinfectant, but hopes to have regulations and materials soon.