(4/14) The Thurmont Town Council continued to work on the 2021 budget spanning several meet-ings, although the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) could play havoc with some of the proposed budgetary allocations.

As the budget work got underway in earnest beginning at the commissioners' March 31 meeting, Linda Joyce, town chief financial officer, told the board, "When we started this budget process, we thought it would be a fairly easy process, but here we are in the middle of just having a lot of uncertain things going on. We had no idea what to expect."

Joyce said, "This budget was prepared a few weeks ago, and we did not realize we'd be in the middle of where we are right now, regarding the virus pandemic," adding, "Going through this, we will have to just keep in mind that we will be looking at this (the figures) somewhere in the near future again."

"We will have to likely make adjustments as we get further into the year... and we have more information to see where things fall as a result of the pandemic that's going on." "In relation to our tax revenues and our other revenues that we receive, as well as our utility funds, no doubt, we are going to be impacted in a lot of different ways, so we'll just have to monitor that closely."

The commissioners reviewed the general fund aspect of the 2021 budget at their March 31 meeting. Highlights included Mayor Kinnaird's list of general fund, capital budget cuts, which included not funding a new $10,000 website for economic development, $10,000 for an air-conditioning unit repair, purchase of a $49,000 police vehicle, purchase of a code enforcement vehicle, purchase of a new $29,000 truck with snow package, and purchase of a $56,000 compact, tracked loader.

Regarding anticipated income tax, as a result of possible continuance of the COVID-19-driven unemployment numbers, Kinnaird said, "I want to assure everyone, that if we see a loss in this area, we will address this as we go through the year, and make adjustments to the budget going forward... I'd like to be optimistic and think we're going to get about the same in income tax... There's probably other things in here (the budget) we could cut back if it is really required of us."

The proposed budget does include pay raises for the mayor in the amount of $3,000, and for the com-missioners in the amount of $2,000. "I will remind you that is some money we can remove if we absolutely have to," the mayor stated.

The town must have a 2021 budget adopted as of July 1.