The loss of sales tax revenues across the state for counties is being projected to be 9% to 10% because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC) hosted a digital press conference Wednesday with Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz and Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro. The online event was hosted by Stephen Acquario, NYSAC executive director, who said NYSAC will be releasing a report on the economic impact of COVID-19.

Acquario said the economic impact of COVID-19 has so far included a $3.5 billion loss in revenues, which includes taxes like sales, occupancy and mortgage recording. He said the impact of the virus has also led to higher spending, a potential decrease in state revenues and the loss of businesses for counties. He added that the 9% to 10% loss in sales tax revenues is around a $2 billion decrease.

“Counties need a federal stimulus package to address the losses,” he said.

Poloncarz said Erie County is looking at a $200 million deficit in its 2020 budget because of the coronavirus.

“We are in a significant financial situation here,” he said.

Molinaro called on Congress for direct aid to counties to help local governments deal with the fallout from the coronavirus. “Without that aid … we will have significant instability at (the county) level and that is something we can’t afford to have happen,” he said.

Poloncarz said there will be drastic cuts without funding for counties in the federal government’s stimulus package 4.0. He said no county employee has been laid off or furlough to this point, but, without federal aid in the next month, that will no longer be the case.

Molinaro said in Dutchess County, no layoffs or furloughs have taken place, but that will change too without federal aid.

“Absent federal assistance, there will be massive layoffs at the government level,” he said. “We’re looking at a $40 million to $70 million lose in revenues.”

The two county executives also discussed Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s new seven criteria scorecard for reopening. Poloncarz said Erie County has met three of the seven criteria.

One of the governor’s criteria for reopening calls for 30 contact tracers per 100,000 residents. A contact tracer is someone who identifies people who have crossed paths with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

Poloncarz said Erie County needs 277 contact tracers to meet the governor’s criteria. He said, right now, Erie County has 20. He added that his plan is to take government staff from departments such as social services to train those employees to be contact tracers.

“This is something we’re doing internally so we can meet the testing metric,” he said.

Poloncarz said he believes Erie County will continue to improve its numbers when it comes to the number of tests it performs. Cuomo’s criteria calls for 30 tests per 1,000 residents each month on average.

Poloncarz said, at the start of the pandemic, Erie County had problems getting the necessary equipment to perform tests.

“That is less of a problem now. We should be able to meet the testing requirement soon,” he said.