Federal pandemic relief is ending; provided valuable assistance replacing lost public revenues

It is time for some financial reality. For governments and organizations that have gotten by during the past two years with a large amount of one-time federal money the day of reckoning is arriving.

Among the federal funding included in the 2020 SECURE legislation and the 2021 American Rescue Plan was cash for states, local governments, colleges, and schools. Public reporting about the use of those funds indicates that much of that money has been spent or is being scheduled in 2022 for long-needed public works projects to repair water and sewer lines, streets and bridges, sidewalks, broadband internet, and other necessities that are often deferred.

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COVID-19 will have a devastating effect on state, local government and school district budgets

Right off the bat, please understand that I consider the public health crisis to be the number one issue and the number one priority for this world, this nation, this state and Western New York. No one can be comfortable with the world as it is today without that focus.

But for this country, state and region to function properly, to provide the support and assistance needed by health care professionals, it is important to have governments who are well managed and in a position to be of assistance. That need, however, is far from being settled at this moment. Continue reading