Fourth of July, Riverfest canceled in South Elgin due to COVID-19

South Elgin canceled its Fourth of July parade and Riverfest Express summer festival in August and delayed a village board vote on its upcoming budget because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The board might discuss the 2020-21 budget at its board meeting May 4 or might hold a special meeting sometime in May, Deputy Village Administrator Megan Golden said.

Officials estimate the pandemic will result in a loss of revenue between $500,000 and $1 million. The general fund budget for the upcoming fiscal year, which starts May 1, projected $17.3 million in expenses. The village has about $12 million in reserves for the general fund, which pays for day-to-day operations, Golden said.

"We have a healthy reserve balance, so the thought was that for the most part, we would proceed with our operations in the near term, and we will look at things to adjust, expense-wise, for next year," she said.

Meanwhile, Village Administrator Steve Super has frozen hiring, including part-time and seasonal workers, and public works employees are being shared with the parks department and the buildings and grounds department.

The pandemic is not expected to result in an overall increase in general fund expenses, Golden said. Additional costs for personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies have been relatively modest at no more than $10,000, Golden said. The village doesn't have a fire department, with fire services provided by the South Elgin and Countryside Fire Protection District.

Work at Panton Mill Park, which includes building a stage, restrooms, concessions stand, splash pad, and more, proceeds on track and will be done by August as scheduled, Golden said.