Cuyahoga County facing $76 million budget deficit during coronavirus pandemic

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - Officials from the Cuyahoga County Board of Health addressed the area’s latest cases of the coronavirus during a regular briefing on Friday morning with Health Commissioner Terry Allan, Medical Director Dr. Heidi Gullett, and Executive Armond Budish.

Executive Budish said Cuyahoga County is facing a $76 million loss in revenue, primarily due to the decline in tax revenue.

To help with the budget shortfall, Budish has ordered a hiring freeze and two-week furloughs for Cuyahoga County employees. He is also proposing a budget cut of 15%.

“These cuts are hard to make,” Budish said.

The county received $215 million through the federal government CARES Act stimulus package, but those funds are to be used strictly for COVID-19 relief.

The Small Business Stabilization Fund has made approximately $4 million available through grants and loans to businesses impacted during the coronavirus pandemic.

More than 3,000 applications have been submitted to Cuyahoga County by businesses requesting funds.

Budish said those funds will begin to be distributed next week, with a second period for submitting applications launching soon.

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