But not every area of the city’s finances is immediately bouncing back.
Currently, there is cumulative $1.3 million difference between what’s been billed and what’s been collected in fiscal 2021 by the Water and Sewer Department.
The city usually writes off about $300,000 in unpaid water and sewer bills each year, but the effects of COVID-19 on the local workforce may see that total increase, officials said.
“We anticipate that being much higher this year,” said Susan Snowden, chief financial officer for the city of Tuscaloosa.
Much of that shortfall has resulted from the grace period imposed last year by Mayor Walt Maddox that prevented water and sewer services from being disconnected for delinquent water and sewer customers.