COVID-19 Pandemic Creates Budget Deficit in Wayne County

Wayne County says it’s projecting a budget deficit of $152 million dollars for the current fiscal year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

As a result, the county is furloughing more than 200 employees and placing a freeze on hiring.  That means more than 600 positions will be left unfilled, according to officials. 

“It’s going to take a while for folks to be able to bounce back if, in fact, they can.” — Wayne County Executive Warren Evans

Wayne County Executive Warren Evans says officials are also reviewing the status of contract workers.

“It’s possible that many of the contracts that we have can be reduced or terminated,” Evans says, “because they’re not going to fit in the remainder of the year after this pandemic.”

Essential services, such as road repairs and park maintenance, will continue.

The financial impact of the COVID pandemic in Wayne County is expected to carry over into the next fiscal year.  Evans says officials are working on creating a new two-year budget plan.

“Not only is the shortfall going to be this year,” he explains, “but obviously with businesses in very tentative situations, it’s gonna take a while for folks to be able to bounce back if, in fact, they can.”

Evans says the county is expecting to bring in less revenue from property taxes, as the impact of the coronavirus lockdown is felt in residents’ pocket books.