5 coronavirus things: Boston University may stay closed until 2021

In this special edition of 5 Things, Food Management highlights five things you may have missed recently about developments regarding coronavirus and its impact on onsite dining.

Here’s your list for today:

While the federal government can literally print money and run massive budget deficits, most state and local governments are tied to balanced budgets, which means a major financial crisis may be looming in the wake of the shutdowns and other economic disruptions caused by coronavirus-related policies.

The big picture, according to this analysis, is that while state and local tax revenue is falling, particularly in areas heavily reliant on sales taxes, spending is up due to added unemployment and medical obligations, adding up to a severe budget crunch and the impact could be significant for institutions heavily reliant on state funding, such as public schools and state universities.

The analysis predicts states will employ various strategies such as pulling 2021 taxes back into fiscal 2020 or extending the 2020 fiscal year, as New Jersey recently did. However, many are looking to the federal government, which recently allocated $150 billion to state and local governments with the recent CARES Act, for a bailout.

Related:Unidine serves healthcare manufacturer during ramped up production for coronavirus

"There's no playbook," according to Louisiana State Treasurer John Schroder. Past state emergencies and budget crises have been regional "and then the rest of the country comes in to the rescue. That ain't going to be happening this time."

Read more: The next economic crisis will hit states and cities

In a possible harbinger of things to come, Boston University may remain shut down until the spring 2021 semester, school officials said in a recently released plan to reopen the campus following the coronavirus pandemic.

“The Recovery Plan recognizes the possibility that the beginning of the fall term may have to be delayed and that a January reopening may be necessary,” the university reported. “In which case, summer 2021 academics would replace those now planned for fall 2020.”

University President Robert A. Brown outlined BU’s recovery plan in a university news article late last week, saying the effort would be spearheaded by five working groups that would assess how the school might resume face-to-face classes and what residential campus life “will look like in the early days of the post-pandemic world” when large gatherings, along with dining and housing operations, could be limited.

Related:Quest Food Management Services copes with coronavirus, supports its clients and receives help from its communities in return

Read more: Coronavirus could keep Boston University campus closed til 2021

Amid a growing pandemic, workers at UMass Memorial Medical Center are demanding hazard pay, testing for employees and more protective gear. United Food and Commercial Workers Union 1445 represents a variety of different workers in the hospital network, including cafeteria workers, and says its members complain they are facing similar risks as medical workers and deserve extra compensation.

Maria Carbone, union steward for the cafeteria workers, says people working in the cafeteria interact with nurses and doctors every day. They’re wearing masks and gloves, but cashiers lack screens at registers. Workers there can’t afford to lose hours, but she said she feels they deserve more protection and more pay for being there.

“During this period, we do deserve a little extra for being here,” said Carbone. “I didn’t sign up to be a doctor, but I’m taking the same risks as a doctor. I don’t make $40 an hour. I make $15 an hour. We’re risking our lives for $15 an hour.”

Recently, state healthcare workers secured hazard pay. On Monday, the state government and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 93 agreed to hazard pay for licensed nurses and caregivers up $10 more an hour until at least May 30.

Read more: UMass Memorial Medical Center support staff seek hazard pay, testing

The University of Pennsylvania (Penn) is canceling all on-campus summer courses and programs, reducing its budget for the 2021 fiscal year and launching an emergency grant fund for employees in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Provost Wendell Pritchett and Executive Vice President Craig Carnaroli wrote in an email to the Penn community that all on-campus summer activities and courses, including Summer Session II, which runs from July 2 to August 7, will be conducted remotely to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Penn has also created The Penn COVID-19 Emergency Grant Assistance Fund that will distribute grants to employees in need of financial assistance.

The Penn COVID-19 Emergency Grant Assistance Fund will allow full-time staff who earn at or below $70,000 a tax-free grant up to $1,500 and part-time staff a tax-free grant up to $750. Certain contracted employees are eligible to apply for these funds but are instructed to contact their employer on eligibility and how to apply. Contracted employees include those employed by Aramark and Bon Appétit Management Co.

Read more: Penn cancels on-campus summer courses and cuts its fiscal year 2021 budget

Sampson County Schools in North Carolina is planning to use part of a $325,517 state assistance allocation for COVID-19 response to provide additional funding for cafeteria employees who are preparing food for the district’s drive-thru service that allows parents to pick up meals for their students. More than 190,000 meals have been served in Sampson County since feeding sites were established across the district.

With the funding, child nutrition employees are expected to receive an additional $4 per hour for work from April 1 through May 15, which is additional $720 per person over a six-week period for the child nutrition staff. Along with the hourly increase, payroll taxes and matching retirement funds, the total is more than $95,000.

During the presentation, Britt said the largest need was to continue to feed students. More than 190,000 meals have been served in Sampson County, since feeding sites were established across the district.

Read more: SCS to boost tech for students, reward cafeteria crew

Bonus: Datassential: College food service sales ‘have dropped off a cliff’

Contact Mike Buzalka at [email protected]