BECKLEY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – The Raleigh County Commission met Tuesday to discuss topics from an extensive agenda which included several proposed revisions to the county budget.
Within minutes of the opening prayer for the session – led by Republican West Virginia Delegate Eric Brooks – members of the commission were presented with various figures pertaining to the revisions in question.
Firstly, four in-house budget revisions were presented, the first of which pertained to the Raleigh County Courthouse and would move $12,000 between four separate lines. This was followed by a motion to approve a shift of $13,500 between lines for the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office Tax Department.
A motion to approve the moving of $4,000 between lines for the Raleigh County Commission Budget was presented, along with the final in-house budget revision which pertained to the Raleigh County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and would see $29,000 moved between 12 different lines. Motions for each of the aforementioned revisions were approved during Tuesday’s session.
Alterations which would bring about a budget increase were then discussed, beginning with a proposed $71,500 increase in the Coal Severance Tax to be adjusted through revenue and divided to other buildings. Additionally, a $10,000 increase to Community Development, a $7,000 increase to the Communication Center, $24,000 to the Ambulance Authority, $13,000 to the Raleigh County Humane Society, $6,000 to Arts & Humanities, and $8,000 to Public Transit totaling $71,500 representative of monies designated for contribution by the Raleigh County Commission. Motions for the approval of these revisions were also approved by the Commission.
The final budget revision presented during Tuesday’s meeting entailed a $126,676 increase in the General County Fund. It was noted, however, that roughly $291,000 would comprise general moving money – some between different lines.
A $6,640 increase in state grants, $40,000 increase in transfers from other funds, a $70,036 increase in Payroll Reimbursement, $100,036 to the sheriff law enforcement line, $6,640 to Elections County Clerk, $10,000 distributed to Assessment Evaluation Fund Insurance from general Assessment Evalution Fund, $40,000 to Community Based Corrections, $2,000 to Fairs and Association Festivals, and “$290 from the County Commission line” were proposed in a budget increase totaling at $126,676 comprised of costs absorbed by the county over the years. Motions for approval of these revisions were additionally passed during Tuesday’s session.
A potential increase in PEIA for Raleigh County employees was also included on the docket for consideration during this week’s Commission meeting but was pushed back as explained by Raleigh County Commission President Dave Tolliver.
“This has been held over two more weeks and we will meet next Tuesday for a staff meeting with elected officials,” said Tolliver regarding the agenda item.
Additional LOOTPRESS coverage of Tuesday’s Regular Session of the Raleigh County Commission can be found here.