City officials gave a coronavirus response update Wednesday afternoon highlighting three main topics.
Lincoln Faces Multi-Million Dollar Budget Shortfall
COVID-19 shutdowns leave the city of Lincoln’s bottom line hurting.
“Our upcoming gap is estimated at $17-million dollars in year one and as high as $22-million dollars in year two,” Leirion Gaylor Baird, Lincoln mayor says. “It’s not a pretty we have to offer right now.
One of the driving mechanisms in the shortfall is a projected $5-million reduction in sales tax revenue – 16 percent in April and May and a 40 percent in June and July.
“It finances day-to-day operations of basic governmental actives and services such as police and fire protection, emergency communications, legal services, aging services and parks and recreation.”
The mayor says they’re implementing a hiring freeze, suspending out of city travel and capital projects are under review.
Lincoln’s Minority Groups Adversely Affected By COVID-19
Newly released data released by the local health officials say the new coronavirus is disproportionately affecting minority groups.
Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department Dr. Raju Kakarlapudi says 33-percent of Asians have been infected.
“This is concerning because Asians make up only 4 percent of our county’s population.”
Almost 24 percent of Hispanics are infected which is over 7 percent of the county’s population.
Part of the discrepancy can be linked to access to basic needs, front line workers and barriers to understanding information.
Health Department Officials Now Tracking Recoveries
Lancaster County is now tracking lab-confirmed COVID-19 recoveries.
He added you can expect the number to go up as more resources become available.
The latest COVID-19 stats can be found on the city’s dashboard.