Staff Writer
A nearly $200,000 sales tax allocation to the city of Grass Valley at the end of September has put its finances in a less-dicey status, said Public Works Director Tim Kiser, the acting city administrator
The city council had enacted a 60-day freeze on discretionary spending in early September due to a concern that revenues from Measure N, a half-percent temporary sales tax increase, were lagging behind. Measure N allocations reach the city several months after the sale point, based on estimates and with a portion withheld, Kiser previously explained. Once sales figures are cemented, that withheld portion is paid in chunks, referred to as a “true up,” and Grass Valley had feared its end-of-September true up would come in low.
While Grass Valley is not currently considering Nevada City-style enforcement mechanisms to combat the coronavirus spread, it is adopting similar efforts to highlight businesses compliant with COVID-19 mandates.
According to City Manager Tim Kiser, the city is offering a display certification for businesses that comply with restrictions that correspond to the county’s current tier designation.
“They can put that up in their window to let people know that they are complying with the state orders,” Kiser said. “Hopefully, it helps our shoppers discern which businesses are and are not compliant.”
The program, which began last Friday, has already seen interest, with staff printing certifications and doing inspections already.