Beaver Creek City Council discusses CARES Act allocations

Beaver Creek City Council members discussed at their Aug. 12 meeting how they’ll disburse their Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds.
The city received $21,000, based on its population, and the council discussed how to allocate it to businesses affected by the pandemic economy.
The council identified seven businesses most likely to qualify for and apply for aid. This would make roughly $3,000 available per business if they all applied.
However, the council discussed the possibility that other eligible businesses may apply, and they ultimately agreed to generally encourage all Beaver Creek businesses to apply for aid.
In the application, they’re asked to identify the amount of aid they need, based on demonstrated pandemic losses since March, and council members said they’d allocate funds accordingly.
The deadline to apply is Sept. 1, and applications will be reviewed at the Sept. 2 council meeting.
 
Council discusses possible preliminary levy hike
In other financial discussion at their Aug. 12 meeting, Beaver Creek City Council members discussed budget matters ahead of their September deadline to set a preliminary levy.
The council currently levies about $120,000 and tries to conduct business in ways that prevent levy increases.
For 2021, however, possible expenditures, such as the water tower improvement project and a fire truck purchase, may require a levy increase.
“All of our accounts are getting low, especially savings,” Blank said. “We probably aren’t going to have a low levy like we’ve had in the past.”
Blank said she typically transfers funds from savings into the general fund to cover overages and then returns funds to savings as revenues come in.
Mayor Josh Teune said funds are lower than they have been, but the city has no debt and is in generally good shape.
Council member Jeff Dysthe said he would not support a levy increase.
Budget line items will be reviewed at the Sept. 9 meeting.