Sandusky spending CARES Act funds on safety services

SANDUSKY — So far, Sandusky officials have dispatched every cent of CARES ACT money coming into city coffers for safety services. During a recent public meeting, commissioners learned the city obtained about $252,000 in the second and latest round awarding these federal funds. This brings Sandusky's total of CARES Act money received to roughly $757,000. Shorthand for Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security, this act was designed to address economic hardships local governments experienced as a result of the pandemic. In a general sense, the more populated an area, the more a particular political subdivision stands to obtain based on available funding. "This is slightly less than what we were hoping for, however, we still anticipate a third round of CARES Act funds," city finance director Michelle Reeder said. The federal legislation limits how local governments can spend their CARES Act money. "Payments from the fund may only be used to cover costs that are necessary expenditures incurred due to the public health emergency with response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)," the act, which outlines policies and procedures for spending money, states. For instance, officials can purchase additional hand sanitizer or personal protective equipment for staff or community members entering public facilities but can't use it for, say, road repairs. The money can also pay for salaries of employees deemed "essential." Supplying safety services CARES Act funds should partially negate the massive shortfall Sandusky's government faces in its everyday operating budget, also known as the general fund. Due to many factors, including Cedar Point's delayed opening and scaled-down operations in 2020, Sandusky could lose upward of $5 million this year in its $24.5 million budget. The budget greatly relies on tourism to generate income. "All the CARES Act funds will offset expenses that normally were expensed from the general fund," Reeder said. "These funds are essential to help the city maintain the safety services provided." Safety services, when grouping police and fire together, accounts for roughly $10 million in annual expenses. That translates to taking up about 40 percent of Sandusky's budget. Both departments operate with 46 full-time workers today. Before retirements and a relocation occurring earlier this year, police and fire each operated with 48 full-time workers. "We are doing our best to balance our budget without further cuts," city manager Eric Wobser said. "We are facing a significant deficit due to the limited opening of Cedar Point and other impacts of COVID on the local economy." So why is CARES Act money going to police officers and firefighters? "Placing these funds into the existing wages of police and fire helps us in that it allows us to better maintain staffing levels of critical first responders to COVID while also mitigating some of the impacts on our budget of the pandemic," Wobser said. Officials want to eventually reinstate staffing levels in both departments but only when Sandusky's economic situation stabilizes. "We want to restore to full strength as soon as possible but also want to avoid layoffs — we have not laid off any union positions including police and fire — so we have to be careful filling positions until we know our long-term financial health," Wobser said. Reductions to workforce levels have taken place in other areas of Sandusky's government. The local government employs 226 people today, down from 253 earlier on in 2020. "We are actively monitoring that situation and will make decisions on a case-by-case basis moving forward," Wobser said.