Cities faced pandemic storm in 2020
Here’s a brief overview of what municipalities faced as year unfolded
The COVID-19 pandemic threw a wrench into civic budgets and programs across Niagara in 2020, with municipalities trying to make the best of an unprecedented situation.
Planning and organizing behind the scenes at Niagara’s city halls was intense.
Here’s a brief overview of what the three largest Niagara municipalities faced as the year unfolded.
ST. CATHARINES
St. Catharines chuef administrative officer Shelley Chemnitz said each year municipalities assess the risk of potential threats such as floods and earthquakes. St. Catharines noticed in fall 2019 that the pandemic risk was on the rise and began monitoring the situation in January.
It started preparing for the worst, such as hanging on to decommissioned computers
instead of auctioning them off in case employees were sent home to work and didn’t have laptops.
In an organization that provides such things as building permits and wedding ceremonies, the leadership team had to assess what was essential, what could be provided remotely and what would have to be put on hold.
“It was a balancing act all the way through,” Chemnitz said. “We needed to look at what can we do safety and what are the financial consequences of that but on the other hand what
does the community need, what does business need?”
By June, the city was estimating a $10.5-million COVID-19 impact by year’s end due to revenue shortfalls and added expenses. Mitigation measures, including temporary layoffs, and federal and provincial emergency funding helped close the gap and the city will not carry an operating deficit into 2021.
NIAGARA FALLS
In Niagara Falls, finance director Tiffany Clark said revenues were down as income from user fees declined, interest rates were lower and the casinos have been closed since midMarch.
Expenses are also down, she said, due to “purposeful mitigation” taken by the city, such as staff layoffs, minimal to no conferences, and less professional development and travel expenses.
Trent Dark, human resources director for the city, said the municipality had laid off 142 people since March. About 12 positions remain laid off and the city has 29 vacant budgeted positions across the corporation.
The municipality delayed the spring recall of seasonal and casual labourers, said Dark.
He said Niagara Falls did not hire for 32 summer student positions and eight co-op positions.
“We have had 26 retirements this year, to date. We have staggered shifts, reviewed redundancies, redeployed staff and encouraged working from home arrangements, where feasible. We estimate the above actions have resulted in approximate cost expenditure savings of over $2 million in salaries and benefits.”
Erik Nickel, the city’s director of municipal works, said capital projects were “largely” unaffected by the pandemic.
Nickel said only one major project was postponed, for at least one year — construction of a roundabout at the intersection of Whirlpool Road and Niagara River Parkway.
WELLAND
Welland Mayor Frank Campion said the city has been able to weather the pandemic storm fairly well.
“From a financial perspective, staff and council implemented several cost-control measures which enabled the city to finish the year without a deficit. Provincial and federal funding helped with this as well,” said Campion.
He said senior staff monitor budget pressures and have implemented cost-containment measures as needed. The city cut back on transit and laid staff off across all departments.
Tthe city saw provincial and public health orders impact its ability to provide many programs, particularly in the area of recreation and culture.
“These are some of the programs most used by residents, and so this impacts their daily lives,” said Campion.