With the economies of Bishop and Mammoth dependent on tourism, it’s no surprise both towns are facing serious budgetary problems. The depths of those problems were agenda items on both Mammoth and Bishop’s Council meetings.
While some California businesses have been given the green light to open, with restrictions, Governor Gavin Newsom’s travel ban is still in place. The state-wide travel ban and continued closure of lodging have taken a big bite out of both sales tax and Transient Occupancy Tax in the Eastern Sierra.
Bishop’s Assistant Finance Director Jennifer Rodricks was the deliverer of the bad news at the City’s May 11 meeting. Rodricks anticipates a $1,062,749 shortfall in the 2020-2021 fiscal year budget. Her report to the Council included options to cut expenses; a presentation by Mark Mandell of Mandell Municipal Counseling provided information on vehicles for increasing revenue.
Based on the potential shortfalls, Council also declared a fiscal emergency. City Counsel Dean Pucci explained the declaration would have no immediate impact but would give city administrators the power to take quick action. “I’m not saying they will execute those powers,” he said, “but that they can if necessary.”
The Council will hold a budget workshop in June to go further into the options available.
Mammoth’s Town Council was warned of a shortfall in mid-April. The plan outlined by Town Manager Dan Holler was to proceed with those projects that could be moved forward with town staff but put on hold those with no current grant funding. In essence, projects like the parks maintenance irrigation would be designed, but construction will be on hold and the generators for use during public safety power outages are being installed.
Funds initially earmarked for now postponed projects will go into the general fund or be diverted to more critical projects.
Do you know why you see people out there? Because they’re living their lives! Do you know how many things out there that could kill you? Did you also know that this virus there’s a chance of 99% or higher that you’ll get over this Chinese Wuhan virus. I’m tired… Read more »
We just left Mammoth , super crowded on weekends you see either a COUPLE or very large Families , groups of 10 to 15 not uncommon, it’s crazy, 2% of the population is infected. Which means A lot of super spreaders in town , It’s all us morons from out… Read more »
Open up! Don’t wait for Newsom. We can mitigate.
Just read dr brown NIH thinks people should be fined for not wearing a mask outside. Another so called expert wanting to be a dictator. Law enforcement should be reminded before they do this that taxes pay their salary if this keeps up their will be none.
please provide the source where he made this comment – ? I suspect your comprehension is lacking a bit.
Why are ya’ll eager to get back to fishing? All ya’ll got no pop! Can’t fade! Got no budd! Can’t tax cause you grey “XXXX” (edit SW) And are always getting shut out! Stay home!
Dude, WTF? What’s up with the gibberish? Have to bring out my Ebonics dictionary to understand what you just said. LOL
My solution and I know I’m not the only one is to get rid of the mlpd and have the sheriff Take Over Law Enforcement. Mammoth Lakes Police Department pays one of the highest Police Department salaries for any Resort in the United States.
Several counties up north defied the shut down orders and then were allowed to re-open most businesses and are now open. It started with Modoc county that had no cases and they have a small population. Then other bigger counties opened up and now most are open. Inyo and Mono… Read more »
Amen there, A Lopez. The flat landers could bail you out in a heart beat but no. PS Flatlanders will end up bailing you out as always. PSS will get right on giving you control of National forest because how bad could you screw that up after all.
We don’t wan you flatlanders and non-residents up here infecting us. In fact, we’re gonna build a wall to keep you out AND YOU’RE GOING TO PAY FOR IT !
Whatever Bernie bro! LOL
Peter The Great. Spoken like true colonizer. The saviors that will bail us out. Spend some money at Vons, Alterra, Starbucks, and other corporations that bleed more from the county than they provide? Spend some money for a fed campsite and enjoy some DWP land? Get out of Moscow and… Read more »
I am no genius, but here is an idea; OPEN UP YOUR DAMN BUSINESSES. DEFY THE GOVERNOR. HE IS A SOCIALIST BENT ON DESTROYING OUR CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC.
I believe the first part of your statement 100% . . . the rest of it, though, seems pretty silly.
Mammoth Hospital had 6 new cases last week. Mono County has the highest per capita Covid-19 rate in entire state of California.Won’t be opening soon.
None of the new cases sought treatment, and three were asymptomatic. I understand the hospital has no Covid-19 patients. This isn’t reason for complacence, but it isn’t reason to panic either.
It’s a very interesting dynamic going on right now. Business obviously need the tourism traffic to sustain business and the locals are like stay away you dirty covid mongrels who are not from here. The facts are that you still have a ton garbage at the river from locals and… Read more »
Remember you voted and begged to keep that area closed. Reap what you sow.
We ???? Bishop and Mammoth. Praying that our tourist dollars help this summer ???? ????????????????
Open up the campgrounds so we can come camp! I have a fully self-contained travel trailer I will stay at my campsite. I will go in the woods alone. our hospitals are empty even in our congested towns! Open up. People want to spend money let them come and spend… Read more »
Let freedom return to some idea of normal and small business can re-open following the northern counties model. There have been way too much lost already. The counties need to request and demand their recovery and it will arrive.
Masks are a social contract to lower (not eliminate) the outward spread of airborne particles. The mosquito example would be to avoid standing stagnant water on your property to help the mosquito population overall in your neighborhood.
Deny science and pay the price! 100,000 dead and people are STILL trying to stick their heads in the sand about this pandemic. Open up and spread the virus to Bishop’s residents? That’s not a solution. Your hospital would be overrun in short order and your cemetary staff working overtime.… Read more »
Mr Cox, are you saying the cotton masks my wife bought to protect the family from a virus won’t work? What about the chain link fence I just installed to keep out mosquitos? Is that a joke too?
why would you assume Chris Cox is a “Mr.” ?
Open up. What other choice do you have? People need the open spaces. Masks and social distancing are a joke. Quit caving into fascism!
Fascism?
Hardly.
Health and safety measures during a time of a fully global pandemic isn’t fascism.
Just give the nonsense a rest.
Here’s a idea stop spending so godd*m much money opm
Open up the Eastern Sierra so I could come and spend my money! I know how to mitigate. Thank you and God bless.