Morning News Briefing
Written by Michael Baldwin on October 20, 2020
Residents of the Town of Bergen can share their thoughts on the new adopted 2021 Preliminary Budget one week from today during a public hearing. The public hearing on the tax cap override will be at 7 p.m., followed by public hearings on the Bergen Volunteer Fire Department budget at 7:15 and on the 2021 Town budget at 7:30. Facing an unprecedented loss of revenues from the county as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Board began cutting 2020 expenses this past spring. Board members took a reduction in pay; some personnel appropriations were trimmed; projects and equipment purchases were put on hold. The moves helped offset a 14.4-percent loss in revenues from Genesee County and 20-percent withholding in various state aid. Again, those hearings are October 27th.
Unlike a bunch of areas west of Binghamton, Genesee County reports no new cases of COVID-19. Eight people have been placed in precautionary quarantine because of travel from restricted states. It’s a different story in Orleans and Wyoming Counties. Eight new cases have been reported in Orleans while seven new infections have been reported in Wyoming County.
In a time when there is no certainty, one thing is clear – local gas prices are holding steady…for now. It is 2020, after all. AAA of Western and Central New York says right now that Batavia gas prices are $2,20 a gallon, which represents no change since last week. The New York State average is $2.25 – the same as last week. A year ago, the NYS average was $2.70.
The Muriel H. Marshall Fund for the Aging at Rochester Area Community Foundation is introducing new ways to connect with the great services it supports for older adults in Genesee County. A new website, askmarshall.net, shares how the Marshall family of programs supports healthy aging and also provides easy access to resources for aging well.
The Drug Enforcement Administration is holding its 19th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, Oct. 24 at locations across the country. The nationwide event aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. Collection sites will adhere to local COVID-19 guidelines and regulations in order to maintain the safety of all participants and local law enforcement.
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is calling for legislation to support live event venues and small- and mid-sized businesses that are struggling to recover after months of limited operations due to the coronavirus crisis. The bipartisan Act would create a new loan program to fund six months of employer and operating expenses for businesses that have lost substantial revenue and need support that the Paycheck Protection Program has been unable to adequately provide. The NY Senator said…the recent uptick in coronavirus cases across New York is a reminder that this pandemic will be with us well into next year.
