Mount Vernon cuts spending by 40% to cover $2.7 million budget shortfall

Despite revenues falling $2.7 million short of projections made before the pandemic, savings generated by city departments will keep Mount Vernon’s finances in good shape, Mayor Matt Starr said.

Department heads have cut General Fund spending by 40%.

The fire and police departments have been the hardest hit. CARES Act funds should help shore up those departments.

Fire Department

“COVID-19 emergency calls have increased, and we are seeing quite a few more respiratory emergencies,” Starr said.

Vehicles are fully staffed and firefighters remain healthy, Fire Chief Chad Christopher reported.

“But the station is closed to the public right now,” Starr said.

The Fire Department turned over the Toys for Tots program to the Knox County Chaplain’s Association. It remains a toy and monetary drop-off site for that program.

The pandemic has put the Red Cross smoke detector program on hold. Call the station to sign up. The program will resume when it is safe for firefighters to go into homes.

The fire chief said that with residents using fireplaces and wood stoves and buying live Christmas trees, they should follow winter safety guidelines.

The three fire crews completed a two-day HazMat training course.

Civil Service

Fifteen firefighters and paramedics took a promotion exam for fire lieutenant. Twelve of them passed, the Civil Service administrator reported.

They will be eligible for promotion until Nov. 27, 2022, if a position opens.

Individuals can apply for an entry-level Civil Service exam for maintenance workers. Contact the merit administrator at 740-392-0775 or on the city website.

Parks

Bathrooms have closed at all city parks for the season. Between Nov. 15 and April 1, no person can occupy a park between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Street Department

Three rounds of leaf pickup resulted in 208 loads of leaves collected. Residents who still have leaves they need picked up can call 740-393-9501 on weekdays from 7:30 a.m - 4 p.m. The city will stop leaf pickups after Dec. 4.

“We have to have our snow blades and salt trucks ready to go; we’ve got to make the conversion,” Starr said.

Thanksgiving closure

City offices will be closed on Nov. 26 and 27 in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.

“I want to wish everybody a very happy and healthy and safe Thanksgiving,” Starr said.