Revenue Shortfall Not As Large As First Projected

As the City of Dubuque pushes through a difficult fiscal year, officials are reporting that potential budget shortfalls are not as drastic as previously believed. Dubuque leaders now project revenue shortfalls of $2.1 million in fiscal year 2021, which began on July 1. These losses are about $3 million less than initially projected. Dubuque Director of Finance and Budget Jenny Larson said the revision comes on the heels of a recent payment schedule issued by the Iowa Department of Revenue, which forecasts what municipalities will receive from the local option sales tax. The improved sales-tax projections present some good news at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic continues to loom large over city operations.  City Manager Mike Van Milligen says, while the outlook is not as bad as before, the city is not completely out of the woods.