Wheeling Mayor Glenn Elliott's announcement last week that the city is planning to see what additional financial assistance it can offer to struggling businesses is welcome news. We will be interested to see what form that help takes.
Council last week heard first reading of a measure that will offer a credit equal to one quarter of Business and Occupation tax to all businesses in the city with fewer than 25 employees. This is expected to cost about $130,000.
As we noted here last week, with the city sitting on millions in CARES Act funding in both the project fund and Municipal Budget Stabilization Fund, more needs to be done to help businesses.
"(W)e're not thinking that's the end here," Elliott said in reference to how the city can help local employers. "We're going to be looking at other ways to provide some additional relief."
Good. Elliott said he has tasked City Manager Robert Herron with finding different ways the city can help. We urge Herron to present a plan to council as soon as possible.