City of Topeka sales tax and use tax revenues were down 8.3% for the month of March, city manager Brent Trout told the mayor and city council at their meeting Tuesday evening. “We’re looking at that and doing some analysis,” Trout said. Tuesday’s announcement came at a time when city officials have been dealing with budget challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
(Read more: Local – The Topeka Capital-Journal)

Topeka YMCA announced Wednesday it has filed for bankruptcy protection. According to a news release from president and CEO John Mugler, the measure was necessary because of the budget shortfalls experienced by the organization during the coronavirus pandemic. “Like many not-for-profits the Y’s finances have been a challenge,” Mugler said.
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The coronavirus task force appointed by Gov. Laura Kelly adopted a plan Tuesday during its first meeting for distribution of $400 million in federal disaster aid to county governments for economic and health costs of the lingering pandemic. The executive committee of SPARK, otherwise known as Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas, carved a chunk from $1 billion in CARES Act assistance sent to Kansas. The cash can’t be used to fill city or county tax revenue shortfalls, but must be applied to expenses incurred during the pandemic and spent by end of the year. “We need to provide local governments with all the resources we can to mitigate the virus and revitalize our economy,” Kelly said. “We want to make these funds available, so communities can address current challenges and jump start our economic recovery.”
(Read more: Local – The Topeka Capital-Journal)