The city of Oneonta faces revenue shortfall,

The shortfall is due to the lack of sales tax being collected due to the coronavirus.

Forced the temporary shutdown of many businesses, both locally and across the nation.

This has meant not only a financial loss for these businesses and the people they employ, but its also for the municipalities where the businesses are located.

At tuesday's online common council meeting, city of oneonta finance director virginia lee said the city faces, at worst, the possibility of a 2.7 million dollar shortfall in sales tax revenues.

Contributing to the revenue loss...the shutdown of oneonta and hartwick colleges, as well as this year's the baseball hall of fame induction ceremony's move to 2021.

Lee says sales tax makes up approximately 30 percent of the city's revenues.

These losses could play a major factor when it comes time to plan the city's budget this fall.

Fortunately the city has been setting aside extra funds...just in case.

"we've got a really good strong fund balance to see us through this.

So in either scenario, from the mild to the severe, i believe our fund balances are strong enough to carry us through even a 3 million dollar loss."

Lee also pointed out that monies collected from ambulance and ems calls are also down.

Since more people are staying home there just aren't as many emergency calls to respond to.

Another major summertime event makes