Herkimer County planning to reopen businesses soon By Luke Perry
Herkimer County hopes to reopen businesses shortly. Vincent Bono, Chairman of the Herkimer County Legislature, said “we’re right there with Oneida County,” who recently submitted a plan to Governor Cuomo. “We feel all our concerns are the same,” Bono told Talk of the Town (WUTQ in Utica). Counties across Central New York “have a common need to reopen.”
The Mohawk Valley is predominately rural. “We’re 62,000 people in our county,” Bono said. “There are city blocks in New York that have 62,000 people. We’re spread out here. It’s a different animal.”
Bono has been in communication with Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente. “I echo what Tony Picente says,” Bono explained. “We can do this. We can do it safely, provided we concentrate on health.” Everybody must have the “right protection” and needed PP.E., and then businesses can gradually open.
Chairman Vincent Bono (Herkimer County)
Bono said that coronavirus cases in Central New York have plateaued. “The good numbers are increasing and the bad numbers are decreasing.” Herkimer County has 78 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 3 fatalities.
“People want to get out,” Bono observed. All the legislators tell him the same thing, “give us a little freedom here.” Bono emphasized that “you have to do it safely” because “you don’t want to undo all that work that’s been done for the last month and a half.”
Bono thinks it is “prudent and responsible” for counties in Central New York to move forward together. This is what Governor Cuomo is considering, “and he’s definitely not against this from what we’re told.”
Bono expects collective movement on a joint plan in the next week or two. This may occur prior to the state’s public health restrictions expiring on May 15.
Bono was not worried about potential revenue losses for Herkimer County from the past several weeks. “We are fortunate enough in Herkimer County to have a decent fund balance,” Bono said.
Bono believes the county can handle the fiscal situation “with lesser concern” than some other places, but “certainly the loss of sales tax revenue is an issue.” The county will soon be informed of their tax revenue situation.
Bono is optimistic that increased on-line shopping will offset lost revenue from day-to-day retail shopping. In the meantime, Bono said the county has enough revenue to “weather the storm.”
Luke Perry (@PolSciLukePerry) is Professor of Government at Utica College
