The Ellensburg City Council has conducted its public meetings via Zoom during the pandemic.
THE PUBLIC’S BUSINESS
Pandemic has wide impact on how public business conducted By RODNEY HARWOOD staff writer As America works to dig out from under the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the city of Ellensburg is no different. The local economy took several hits over the course of 2020 and it has affected how the city does business. The Ellensburg Rodeo was canceled for the first time in 78 years, creating a substantial economical loss. The annual three-day Jazz in the Valley was also canceled. The governor’s “Stay Home, Stay Safe,” impacted everything from 22
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restaurants to hotels to businesses across the state, but city officials buckled up for the long haul, Ellensburg City Manager John Akers said. “We’ve had a lot of uncollected utility accounts because of the governor’s orders,” said Akers, who is scheduled to retire in May. “We have a fairly (large) accounts receivable that we may or may not ever be able to collect. “We’re thinking about a 30% loss. The biggest hit to the city tax base so far is in the hotel and restaurant sectors.” The three big pieces to the sales tax puzzle are retail commerce, construction and food services. City Finance Director Jerica Pascoe said back
in May, city sales are the major portion to the business structure. In focusing on the sales tax, the city will manage. “There’s going to be other taxes and areas of funding where we’re going to take a huge hit, but we’ve been focusing on sales tax. There’s three largest pieces of sales tax,” she said. “Retail trade is our biggest. Construction goes up and down every month. That one’s going to be volatile, then there’s food services. “We’re trying to take a peek at what they’re going to do to see what’s to come. Construction will be helpful, but it just depends on how much and how long. Construction is all about the timing about when the projects are
done and paid.” CITY SHUT DOWN The city offices shut down for three months in the beginning, but have been re-opened since July. But it’s a far cry from business as usual with mask requirements, social-distancing and the various safety protocols in place. “I don’t even have in-person meetings with staff anymore. Everything is a Zoom meeting,” Akers said. “The biggest thing I notice when I walk in the building is the masks and people standing apart. “No one eats or has lunch together. It’s better now with the vaccines
