The financial implications of the novel coronavirus on Chautauqua County’s finances are still unknown, but officials are starting to making decisions to brace for the impact.

The Chautauqua County Legislature Audit and Control Committee on Thursday discussed guidelines that have been given to department heads in county government. Kathleen Dennison, county budget director, said last week county officials started weekly meetings to discuss the financial implications of the virus and provided a memo to department heads on steps that should be taken during the outbreak.

One of the guidelines was for each department head to try and cut their budget by 15% to 20% in local share.

Dennison said department leaders were asked to do this because of the decrease that will take place in sales tax revenues the county receives and the potential for the state to decrease payments to local governments.

Other guidelines included only hiring replacement employees for positions considered essential; no overtime pay unless COVID-19 related; no new equipment purchases; any purchase costing more than $5,000 needs to be approved by the budget director; and no unnecessary travel.

Legislator Chuck Nazzaro, D-Jamestown and committee chairman, said the New York State Association of Counties has estimated that Chautauqua County could lose between $2.9 million and $8.7 million in sales tax revenue because of the coronavirus.

Kitty Crow, county finance director, said the first quarter of the year was looking favorable for sales tax revenue prior to the outbreak of the virus.

During Thursday’s discussion, one capital request for around $440,000 for new vehicles for the Sheriff’s Office was discussed. Darryl Braley, undersheriff, said there is not a drastic need for the new vehicles, but it will potentially lead to an increase in maintenance cost for higher mileage vehicles. The committee asked the undersheriff to hold off on the purchasing of new vehicles for three months.