OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — On Friday, Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert, Rep. Don Bacon and other officials provided a coronavirus update.
Bacon has mentioned it before, but today he introduced a bill that would allow state and local governments to use the federal money for lost revenue, which could save first responder jobs.
Currently, the police and fire departments are on a spending and hiring freeze but they'll need more help.
Bacon hopes Congress can pass a bill allowing local governments to spend the money in the next two to three weeks. He says he already has bi-partisan support and believes either his bill, or a similar one, will get through Congress. If it doesn't, it would be bad news for police and fire departments across the country.
"If we don't resolve this...our firemen, our law enforcement, our first responders are under risk of being laid off, and that would be a tragedy...a travesty, for our community and any community," Bacon said.
Douglas County Health Director Adi Pour also provided an update. She said she is very concerned about churches and religious services opening this coming week. She made a point, multiple times, that older people and people that are vulnerable should not go under any circumstance.
Still looks like an $80 million hole in the general fund budget. 2/3 of that is fire and police departments, Stothert says she really doesn't want to make cuts there.
— Jon Kipper (@jonnykip21) May 1, 2020
Stothert says raising property taxes is not an option. That levy rate has already been set for 2020.
— Jon Kipper (@jonnykip21) May 1, 2020
Currently the city is on a hiring and purchasing freeze to help with this.
— Jon Kipper (@jonnykip21) May 1, 2020
Finance director Steve Curtis says there's a lot of unknowns. Nobody knows when the city is going to come out of this.
— Jon Kipper (@jonnykip21) May 1, 2020
Curtis has early indications on how it's hitting the restaurant tax, it's about 15% or around $400k.
— Jon Kipper (@jonnykip21) May 1, 2020
The hotel tax is around 56% down. That hits the city another $350-375k.
The CARES Act that congress passed does not include Omaha because the population is not over 500,000 people.
— Jon Kipper (@jonnykip21) May 1, 2020
Rep. Don Bacon is trying to pass another bill that would include Omaha.
The CARES Act only allows state & local governments to use the money for COVID-19 related expenses.
— Jon Kipper (@jonnykip21) May 1, 2020
That doesn't help Nebraska or Omaha for revenue they lost because of the coronavirus.
Bacon's bill would allow them to use that money for loss of revenue from March 1st to December.
— Jon Kipper (@jonnykip21) May 1, 2020
He already has Rep. Jeff Fortenberry of Lincoln, four other Republicans and five Democrats.
So it appears bi-partisan, so far.
Bacon's bill would allow them to use that money for loss of revenue from March 1st to December.
— Jon Kipper (@jonnykip21) May 1, 2020
He already has Rep. Jeff Fortenberry of Lincoln, four other Republicans and five Democrats.
So it appears bi-partisan, so far.
Stothert says "it's critical" right now to continue to follow the restrictions.
— Jon Kipper (@jonnykip21) May 1, 2020
It could allow the city to open back up sooner.
The Omaha Cinco de Mayo Festival planned has been cancelled.
— Jon Kipper (@jonnykip21) May 1, 2020
Dr. Adi Pour, Douglas County Health Director says last week we had 376 cases, we're currently at 689 cases, with one more day to go.
— Jon Kipper (@jonnykip21) May 1, 2020
The majority getting hit by the virus is 25-49 year olds. The next group is 50 to 64 year olds.
— Jon Kipper (@jonnykip21) May 1, 2020
Pour says most of the deaths are between 62-90 years old.
Pour says there are 20 outbreaks or clusters throughout the community.
— Jon Kipper (@jonnykip21) May 1, 2020
6 in long-term care facility, 5 in food processing industries, and 3 manufacturing facilities.
70% of the ventilators in the community are available.
— Jon Kipper (@jonnykip21) May 1, 2020
"We have the resources in this community to ensure everyone, that we can take care of them," says Pour.
12 people are staying in the UNO dorms. They need to quarantine to stay away from family.
— Jon Kipper (@jonnykip21) May 1, 2020
Pour says testing has increased in the community and will increase further.
— Jon Kipper (@jonnykip21) May 1, 2020
The Test Nebraska program will start soon, but start very slow and then accelerate.
Pour says she's not concerned about elective surgeries, but is worried about churches beginning services again.
— Jon Kipper (@jonnykip21) May 1, 2020
Pour says high-risk people should not go to church still. At least for the next two weeks.
Pour says she wants to see more people wearing masks in the community. Says it varies from place to place, with some places doing very well, others not so good.
— Jon Kipper (@jonnykip21) May 1, 2020
Calls mask a tool in the toolbox and that we need to take advantage of every tool we have.
Stothert says the city started early, saying the reason cases are relatively low is because they started restrictions early.
— Jon Kipper (@jonnykip21) May 1, 2020
Stothert says she won't hesitate to resume restrictions if cases go up or rules aren't being followed.
— Jon Kipper (@jonnykip21) May 1, 2020
Stothert says people have been following rules at the city parks. OPD issued no citations during checks this week.
— Jon Kipper (@jonnykip21) May 1, 2020
Stothert says she's hearing from parents that team sports will begin before June 1st.
— Jon Kipper (@jonnykip21) May 1, 2020
Stothert says all organized team sports are suspended until May 31, so they cannot operate.
Hoping to start in June, but who knows.
Rep. Bacon says he thinks something like his bill will pass just isn't sure if it will be his bill.
— Jon Kipper (@jonnykip21) May 1, 2020
Says it could take around two to three weeks.
Mentions that another recovery bill could be on the way.