Tucker County Commissioners look through the preliminary budget before submitting it to the W.Va. State Auditor. Commission President Lowell Moore said the budget includes a proposed $500 across the board raise for all full time employees.
PARSONS – Tucker County Commissioners approved a preliminary budget for 2015 -2016 during their regular meeting Wednesday. The Commission budget is balanced with income and expenditures of an estimated $4,879,404.
Estimated expenses include $2,727,548 for General Government Expenses, $1,550,805 for Public Safety; $25,000 for Health and Sanitation; $522,000 for Culture and Recreation; and Capital Outlay for $54,051.
“We have worked tirelessly to get our preliminary budget passed,” Commission President Lowell Moore said. “It will be sent to the Auditor’s Office for final approval.”
Commissioner Diane Hinkle said she was appreciative of County Clerk Sherry Simmons’ time and dedication to developing the budget. Moore agreed.
“We do want to sincerely thank you,” Moore said. “I also want to thank all of the other elected officials and department heads for helping with the budget. This year, money is tighter than it normally is. We are down this year and the budget did not come as easily as in years past.”
Moore said the county’s income is down mostly due to the loss of coal severance and the unknown factor for the payment in lieu of taxes funds.
“We had to ask everybody to reduce the amount they asked for in this year’s budget,” Moore said. “The County Commission, County Clerk, Courthouse and most everything was request. We lost close to half a million dollars in coal severance taxes. Our PILT is a fictitious number, so we are unsure of the amount. There is also a lot of property tax pending.”
“We want to try to keep the levy rate the same,” Hinkle said. “So we really appreciate that all of the elected officials worked with us in that effort.”
Joel Goughnour, Tucker County Administrator, said there would be a special Tucker County Commission meeting at 4 p.m. Tuesday to open bids for the Courthouse Facilities Improvement Authority for work on the clock tower.
Darla Stemple, Director of the Tucker County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management/911, said she was glad winter is over, but said she doubted flood season was over.
“Once again, we have learned how much (water) we can hold,” Stemple said. “I feel pretty comfortable that if the Shaver’s Fork Bowden goes to 14 feet, Parsons can hold that.”
Stemple said she contacted the National Weather Service to begin a conversation about a river gauge between Parsons and Bowden. “I know there is a time frame where they have to do curves before it could begin, but you have to start somewhere.”
Commissioner Patrick Darlington thanked Stemple for keeping everyone well informed about the river conditions.
In other business, Tucker County Commissioners took the following action:
– Voted to present the amended Tucker County Health Department Lease Agreement.
– Voted to accept the Fair Housing Resolution.
– Voted to approve the Division of Justice and Community Service Resolution.
The next meeting of the Tucker County Commission is slated for 9 a.m. April 8, in the Tucker County Courthouse Courtroom.
