The impact of Governor Newsom’s stay-at-home order on local businesses will range from substantial to catastrophic, and the town of Yucca Valley can expect to lose between $1 and $5 million in tax revenue. While there are no programs at the state or federal levels to help municipalities yet, last night the Yucca Valley Town Council passed an economic assistance package to help support local small businesses. Managing editor Tami Roleff explains what kind of help small businesses can expect…
Last night, the Yucca Valley Town Council unanimously approved an economic assistance package for small brick-and-mortar businesses in the town. The town will offer interest-free emergency loans of up to $5,000 for local small businesses with annual revenues of under $1 million. The loans are not available to short term vacation rental owners. In addition, the town will waive the payment of fees for business registration, short term vacation rental renewals, and transient occupancy taxes, as well as a waiver of late fees or penalties on licenses and registrations through June 30. The town will allocate $250,000 from its Measure Y funds for the interest-free loans.
In other business, the council decided it wanted the “biggest bang for the buck” for its new aquatics center. The $22.5 million dollar facility will be built next to the Boys and Girls Club and would have a hybrid indoor pool, a splash pad, a gymnasium, and a space to consolidate park staff. Future phases would include an outdoor 33-meter pool, and another gym.
This proposal also has the highest cost recovery rate of the six plans considered, at 47 percent, meaning usage fees would pay for an estimated 47 percent of the center’s upkeep. The annual cost to maintain the proposed facility is estimated to be about $822,000, and fees would bring in between $250,000 and $300,000.
