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Opinion column
by Murrel Bland
A 25-member committee, formed by Mayor David Alvey and including business leaders, is helping Wyandotte County adjust to changes caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Dr. K. Allen Greiner, the Unified Government’s chief medical officer, issued a continuation of the stay-at-home order, effective until midnight May 10. At that time, if data allows, Wyandotte County will enter the “red zone” of the “Restart WyCo Road to Recovery.” If all goes well, Wyandotte County will move through the “yellow zone” and, later on, the “green zone.”
Mayor Alvey was quick to admit that the pandemic “has caused enormous hardship on families and businesses in our community.” He said it will be important to gradually restore and reopen the economy in the right way.
The “red zone” of the restart effort relaxes the stay–at–gome requirements, but recommends the highest level of caution for vulnerable persons. The “yellow zone” relaxes stay-at-home requirements even further while allowing more businesses to open under caution. The “green zone” is the least stringent with few restrictions. Details of the restart can be found at www.wycokck.org/COVID-19. These zones are similar to ones proposed by Gov. Laura Kelly.
The Unified Commission, meeting Thursday night, April 30, learned that the pandemic could cost the local government as much as $35 million this year and as much as $22 million in 2021. A large loss will come from lack of sales tax; two major contributors, Nebraska Furniture Mart and Legends Outlet, have been closed for several weeks.
County Administrator Doug Bach said, despite this loss, he does not anticipate a mill rate increase in local property taxes. The Unified Government has implemented a hiring freeze except for critical positions such as police and fire.
Mike Taylor, the lobbyist for the Unified Government, said Congress is debating how much the federal government will help state and local government. He said the state of Kansas is estimated to lose $1.2 billion as a result of the pandemic.
Taylor said the speaker of the House, U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-California) wants to give state and local government $1 trillion; however, U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky), the majority leader of the Senate, suggested that states go bankrupt. Taylor said a compromise of about $500 billion could be a possibility.
Murrel Bland is the former editor of The Wyandotte West and The Piper Press. He is the executive director of Business West.