Right now, it’s all hands on deck for local governments. Just performing day-to-day services can be challenging as needs increase and staff turnover is high.
This means local governments are in a bind between providing acute services and managing projects with longer term impact. Federal grants are one such example, as they come with specific reporting requirements, benchmarks, and timelines to meet.
Just when local leaders thought we were in the all clear, here comes Delta. The rise of this new COVID-19 variant has resulted in a significant wave of serious cases across the United States, including Illinois where it's the dominant variety. And it’s not the only variant. Scientists predict additional variants as vaccination rates lag.
Communities with populations less than 50,000 are now eligible to receive federal pandemic relief funds allocated through the American Rescue Plan.
These funds are critical for helping more than 1,250 small communities across Illinois recover pandemic-related costs and set up for long-term health and stability.
Azavar has been selected by Forest View, Illinois to conduct a comprehensive review of its taxes and fees. We are pleased to partner with this unique Cook County community, which lies along Chicago's west side border.
One key reason that municipalities seek out tax compliance audits is that they suspect what we call a revenue leak— a loss of income from taxes and fees caused by errors to tax rolls.
Chesterfield, Missouri is a peaceful and picturesque community tucked south of the Missouri River and to the west of St. Louis. With a stable population of nearly 50,000, Chesterfield is looking to maintain a steady budget while consistently improving quality of services for its residents.
Many local governments across the country have experienced devastating losses due to COVID-fueled lockdowns. Vaccination rates are growing rapidly, but in urban centers it can still be a Sisyphean effort to get jabbed.
At Azavar, we always encourage communities to take a keen eye to its revenue receipts. Whether you’re talking about hotel-motel or sales taxes, franchise or short-term rental fees, it’s important to do stay on top of what’s coming into your community coffers. But it’s so hard for finance teams to find the time and resources to conduct in-depth revenue reviews.
That’s why we’re excited to partner with Calumet Park, Illinois to review this city’s hotel-motel taxes.
During this Black History Month, we are taking time to honor the contributions of Black civic leaders. These spectacular public servants have shaped the American experience in remarkable ways and sharing their stories is important to us at Azavar.
Harold Washington was Chicago’s 51st mayor, but in 1983, became its first Black mayor.
Editor's Note, March 2021: We ran this piece a few months ago and we're hearing from many local leaders who are taking action based on these recommendations. Have you examined your utility payables yet? Our team of experts can help.
Many consumers have grown accustomed to frequently searching for better deals on utilities, from cable to electric to phone. But how often do municipalities do the same? However, local governments can experience significant savings from switching.
“Often, local leaders just don’t know how much they stand to save,” says Mordecai Benson, Azavar analyst. “But the results can be significant.”
Here are just a few of the ways Azavar has helped local governments reclaim real dollars on behalf of their residents:
