As area cities and counties work through the budgeting process for Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22), they are hearing from departments about the previous year’s budget numbers as well. COVID-19 has impacted everyone, but one Carroll County department has seen the negative impact to a greater degree than many others. County Attorney, John Werden, says income for misc. fees for FY20 was $60,502 and year to date for FY21 it is $12,815.
He says, according to the legislature’s analysis, it should be the same as previously, but he would be surprised if it was revenue neutral. Werden says forfeitures and collections have all but disappeared over the past year as well, due to a change in forfeiture law and as a side effect of COVID-19. The drop in income is somewhat offset by other impacts of the pandemic as well.
Ruggles is not very comfortable with making the vaccine a requirement, but is also not in favor of employees, for example an EMT who has not been vaccinated, interacting so intimately with the general public. Stephanie Hausman answers the question from Gene Meiners about how many county employees have signed up for the vaccine.
Hausman believes they are completely overstepping their bounds with a requirement and would like to talk with County Attorney, John Werden, before even considering this option. She also says other public entities have faced legal challenges from mandatory flu vaccinations. Neil Bock voices his opinion and questions their recourse if a non-vaccinated employee is infected.