Although we’ve made great progress in combating the spread of COVID-19 here in Tinley Park, we’re unfortunately still feeling its impact. Whether it’s the continuing risk it poses to public health or the negative effect it’s had on everyone’s wallet, it seems we’re not quite out of the woods yet. Thankfully, the Village planned ahead and had money in reserve for an emergency such as this. As a result, things aren’t quite as dire as they could’ve been.

Back in April, in anticipation of the financial impact that COVID-19 would have on Tinley Park, the Village devised a spending plan to reduce the 2021 budget by $6.7 million. We did this through eliminating, deferring or resizing projects and nonessential services, deferring new hiring and other operating expenditures, eliminating training, reducing overtime and reorganizing staffing. At the time we didn’t know how severely the pandemic would affect the Village. Based on conservative estimates, we anticipated total revenue loss to be $14 million.

Through August, underperforming revenues are down about $3.6 million from last year. This includes sales taxes (municipal 1 percent and home rule), which is down $1.1 million. Amusement tax is a total loss of $1.2 million due to the music theater cancelling its schedule. Video gaming was disconnected through June, which cost the Village about $150,000. Other revenue streams are down as well; motor fuel tax fell by about $120,000, the hotel tax by about $640,000, and the commuter parking revenues by $260,000. As of this writing, our General Fund is down about $2.6 million from this time last year.

On the bright side, our Use Tax is up about $133,000, and the New Motor Fuel Transportation Renewal Fund is up around $321,000, meaning our revenue loss is closer to $3.1 million. We’ll continue to monitor our finances on a monthly basis to ensure we’re continuing to operate within our means.

Keep in mind that these losses occurred during the months the Village was shut down due to quarantine, so we should see revenues start to normalize this month. If we stay the course with our current spending plan, I’m confident we’ll start to see the numbers begin to creep back into the black in no time.

Residents can do their part by remembering to wear face coverings and maintaining safe social distances while they’re out and about. If we all work together, we can prevent Tinley Park from reverting to an earlier, more restrictive phase of the State’s Restore Illinois plan that would put further stress on our finances.

As always, please feel free to contact me at dniemeyer@tinleypark.org if you have any questions or concerns.

The Village will host a virtual Patriot Day ceremony at 7:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 11 on the Village’s Facebook page.

Tune in to watch a short remembrance ceremony in honor of the emergency responders who perished during the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Please feel free to extend this invitation to your family or friends.

KO Bossy will perform during the final Music in the Plaza concert at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12 in Zabrocki Plaza. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, attendance will be limited to about 1,100 people. Those who weren’t able to secure tickets can watch the entire concert live on the Village's Facebook page or come to the event after 7:30 p.m. to see if there are any unused tickets available.

KO Bossy is a six-piece classic rock-n-roll/dance band that delivers energy, heart and a lot of soul! The group has a diverse repertoire that ranges from rock to funk and soul to rhythm and blues.

If you were able to get tickets and will be attending the concert in person, please remember to wear face coverings when moving about the event and in line for the event. Everyone will be asked to stay in their assigned section for the duration of the event. The section number on your ticket will indicate in which section you will be sitting during the concert (these sections will be marked with orange lines and numbered signs at the event for your convenience).

Check-in will begin at 6 p.m. at the east and west entrances. All unused tickets will be made available to the general public after 7:30 p.m. If plans change and you no longer can attend, please email mktg@tinleypark.org so the Village can make your tickets available to someone else.

For more information, please visit TinleyPark.org/MIP.

The Village would like to remind residents that most Tinley Park businesses are open and ready to serve customers!

While dining inside Will County restaurants is currently on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic, residents can still eat outside as long as they wear a face covering anytime they’re interacting with wait staff. Other options, such as curbside pickup, drive-through and delivery, allow residents to get great food without ever having to leave their cars!

Head out and patronize one of the hundreds of excellent Tinley Park businesses and help support your own town in the process!

Amateur sluthers have through Oct. 1 to participate in the Benches on the Avenue "Around the World" Scavenger Hunt! Just print a game sheet and take it to Oak Park Avenue in Downtown Tinley. Use the clues provided on the game sheet to locate each bench, then examine the bench closely to answer the question beneath the clue. Once you’ve filled out each one, deposit the game card in the drop-box outside the Tinley Park Chamber of Commerce, 17316 S. Oak Park Ave.

Those who answer all questions correctly will be entered into a drawing for some fun prizes, including one of this year’s benches! All entries must be received by Oct. 1. Grab a game sheet and start playing now!

Also be sure to check out the 2020 Benches on the Avenue video or read this year's Benches brochure, both of which are available at TinleyPark.org/Benches.