Budget Story

03-30-11-ARS-Budget

By: Alyssa Salyers

After combing the budget to find money for paving city streets, Huntington Mayor Kim Wolfe hit a few financial potholes of his own.  He soon came to the conclusion that filling potholes will require sacrifice and that job vacancies in the fire department will remain unfilled. 

   

Police Chief Skip Holbrook and Fire Chief Creig Moore have been asked to shave thousands of dollars from their budgets in order to help fund the city’s paving project.

   

Moore identified $90,000 that could be cut from the fire department budget without adversely affecting services.

   

After a line-by-line review, $100,000 was cut from the police department budget.

   

The mayor’s proposed budget for the 2011-2012 fiscal year is flat.  The proposal shows minimal revenue growth and limits new expenditures to the purchase of computer software and street paving.

   

The $39.3 million 2010-2011 budget actually called for a 10% pay decrease.  Many city offices were closed one day per week and workers worked fewer hours and collected smaller paychecks. 

   

Mark Bates, council chairman said there were layoffs in the 2010-2011 budget that were later restored.

   

Wolfe’s $39.2 million budget proposal for the current fiscal year restores the five day work week for employees whose pay and hours were reduced by 10% last year, but suggests laying off six workers and leaving other job vacancies unfilled. 

   

The proposed 2011-2012 budget includes pay raises for the city clerk and finance director.

   

With Huntington’s tax reform package now approved by the West Virginia Home Rule Board, Huntington’s budget will likely change to reflect the increased revenue from the 1% occupation tax and 1% sales tax.  The sales tax goes into effect on Jan 1, while the occupation tax is set to begin on July 1.  The B & O tax reduction included in the measure goes into effect on Jan. 1 as well.

   

Wolfe is proposing $440,000 into the city’s contingency fund next fiscal year in order to bring the fund to the $1 million level necessary to keep the city’s BBB+ bond rating.

Fire and Police Department Sidebar

Mayor Kim Wolfe’s 2011-2012 budget proposal is flat, but much like the streets of Huntington, full of potholes.

Paving is a priority this fiscal year.  The importance of fixing the city’s streets looms so large that both the police and fire departments have been asked to trim their budgets in an attempt to allocate several hundred thousand dollars more to the paving project.

Police Chief Skip Holbrook was asked to trim $200,000 a year, but said that cutting more than $134,000 would adversely affect the services his department provides.

In a line-by-line review Holbrook identified a $10,000 savings in fuel costs, and cut the furniture budget to zero.

In the end, $100,000 was cut from the police department budget.

Fire Chief Creig Moore said budget cuts were not possible in the fire department.

A line-by-line review of the the budget for the fire department is currently being conducted.

Wolfe’s budget called for leaving vacancies in the fire department unfilled.

Proposed

Departments	Fiscal Year 2009-2010	Fiscal Year 2010-2011	Fiscal Year 2011-2012 EST THUR 6/30/11
Police Department	11,004,524	10,977,181	10,904,958
Fire Department	10,252,681	10,362,836	10,272,836

Expenses

Departments	Fiscal Year 2009-2010	Fiscal Year 2010-2011	Fiscal Year 2011-2012
Police Department	10,839,725	11,070,353	10,977,181
Fire Department	10,396	10,373,117	10,362,836

-30-

After Huntington City Council

By: Alyssa Salyers

At tonight’s Huntington City Council meeting several citizens stood up and spoke their opinions.

Council members voted unanimously to approve an ordinance to purchase new high-definition surveillance cameras. After the vote an audience member by the name of Piles said in his opinion these cameras were not a good improvement for our city. He said the cameras would “spy” on the citizens of Huntington.  Pile’s said he thought the real issue was the Huntington Police Department just simply were not doing a good enough job at patrolling the city. However the cameras are going to be placed soon in the Fairfield West area, to help lower crime in the area.

Members of the council also approved an ordinance to raise the fee for the certificate of use of occupancy from the now $15 to $75.  Before this approval an audience member, McCallister, said he was outraged by this ordinance.  He said he didn’t understand why council who voted to raise this fee $60.  McCallister also commented on Mayor Wolfe’s absence from the meeting.  He said this was in fact Wolfe’s fourth absence this year.

Also the proposed contract with Big Run Landfill was sent back to the finance committee.

Council also discussed Gino’s Pizza anniversary celebrations and Kenney Grant, restaurant owner.

Budget Story

03-30-11-ARS-Budget

By: Alyssa Salyers

After combing the budget to find money for paving city streets, Huntington Mayor Kim Wolfe hit a few financial potholes of his own.  He soon came to the conclusion that filling potholes will require sacrifice and that job vacancies in the fire department will remain unfilled. 

   

Police Chief Skip Holbrook and Fire Chief Creig Moore have been asked to shave thousands of dollars from their budgets in order to help fund the city’s paving project.

Moore identified $90,000 that could be cut from the fire department budget without adversely affecting services.

After a line-by-line review, $100,000 was cut from the police department budget.

The mayor’s proposed budget for the 2011-2012 fiscal year is flat.  The proposal shows minimal revenue growth and limits new expenditures to the purchase of computer software and street paving.

The $39.3 million 2010-2011 budget actually called for a 10% pay decrease.  Many city offices were closed one day per week and workers worked fewer hours and collected smaller paychecks. 

Mark Bates, council chairman said there were layoffs in the 2010-2011 budget that were later restored.

Wolfe’s $39.2 million budget proposal for the current fiscal year restores the five day work week for employees whose pay and hours were reduced by 10% last year, but suggests laying off six workers and leaving other job vacancies unfilled. 

The proposed 2011-2012 budget includes pay raises for the city clerk and finance director.

With Huntington’s tax reform package now approved by the West Virginia Home Rule Board, Huntington’s budget will likely change to reflect the increased revenue from the 1% occupation tax and 1% sales tax.  The sales tax goes into effect on Jan 1, while the occupation tax is set to begin on July 1.  The B & O tax reduction included in the measure goes into effect on Jan. 1 as well.

Wolfe is proposing $440,000 into the city’s contingency fund next fiscal year in order to bring the fund to the $1 million level necessary to keep the city’s BBB+ bond rating.

     

Fire and Police Department Sidebar

Mayor Kim Wolfe’s 2011-2012 budget proposal is flat, but much like the streets of Huntington, full of potholes.

Paving is a priority this fiscal year.  The importance of fixing the city’s streets looms so large that both the police and fire departments have been asked to trim their budgets in an attempt to allocate several hundred thousand dollars more to the paving project.

Police Chief Skip Holbrook was asked to trim $200,000 a year, but said that cutting more than $134,000 would adversely affect the services his department provides.

In a line-by-line review Holbrook identified a $10,000 savings in fuel costs, and cut the furniture budget to zero.

In the end, $100,000 was cut from the police department budget.

Fire Chief Creig Moore said budget cuts were not possible in the fire department.

A line-by-line review of the the budget for the fire department is currently being conducted.

Wolfe’s budget called for leaving vacancies in the fire department unfilled.

Proposed

Departments	Fiscal Year 2009-2010	Fiscal Year 2010-2011	Fiscal Year 2011-2012 EST THUR 6/30/11
Police Department	11,004,524	10,977,181	10,904,958
Fire Department	10,252,681	10,362,836	10,272,836

Expenses

Departments	Fiscal Year 2009-2010	Fiscal Year 2010-2011	Fiscal Year 2011-2012
Police Department	10,839,725	11,070,353	10,977,181
Fire Department	10,396	10,373,117	10,362,836

-30-

Huntington City Council Meeting

I will be attending the Huntington City Council meeting tonight . The council will be voting on a contract to purchase more surveillance cameras.  These cameras are expected to be placed in the Fairfield West area, as a deterrent to crime. The council will also vote on a second reading of an ordinance to raise the fee for the certificate of use of occupancy from $15 to $75.  I am interested to see what happens with the proposed contract with Big Run Landfill.

March 28 City Council Meeting

Council Agenda

A G E N D A
HUNTINGTON CITY COUNCIL
March 28, 2011
7:30 p.m.

2. Roll Call 1. Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance

3.   Synopsis of Last Meeting 

4.  Reports of the Mayor 

5. Good & Welfare

6. 2nd Reading of an Ordinance re: AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF HUNTINGTON, WV, 1998, AND THE ZONE MAP ATTACHED THERETO AS A PART THEREOF, BY ZONING TO I-1 GENERAL INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT FROM R-5 RESIDENCE DISTRICT THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 2001 7th AVENUE, CABELL COUNTY TAX MAP 19, PARCEL 625 (following postponement)

7. 2nd Reading of an Ordinance re: AN ORDINANCE OF COUNCIL AMENDING, MODIFYING AND RE-ENACTING ARTICLE 1357 OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF HUNTINGTON, AS REVISED CONCERNING FILING FEES

8. 2nd Reading of an Ordinance re: AN ORDINANCE OF COUNCIL AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT TO FURNISH THE HUNTINGTON SANITARY BOARD WITH POLYMER

9. 2nd Reading of an Ordinance re: AN ORDINANCE OF COUNCIL AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT TO FURNISH THE HUNTINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT WITH A MOBILE GENERATOR SET

10. 2nd Reading of an Ordinance re: AN ORDINANCE OF COUNCIL AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT TO PROVIDE THE HUNTINGTON POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH A VIDEO SURVEILLANCE NETWORK

11. 2nd Reading of an Ordinance re: AN ORDINANCE OF COUNCIL AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT TO FURNISH LANDFILL SERVICES TO DISPOSE OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE FOR THE CITY OF HUNTINGTON

12. 1st Reading of an Ordinance re: AN ORDINANCE OF COUNCIL AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT TO FURNISH THE HUNTINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT WITH ONE (1) NEW 2011 FORD EXPEDITION

13. 1st Reading of an Ordinance re: AN ORDINANCE OF COUNCIL ESTABLISHING THE ZONING CLASSIFICATION FOR PROPERTY OWNED BY JERRY MEADE, DAVID L. HELMER & SUSAN HELMER, DAVID A. DENNING II & KRISTI L. DENNING, HAROLD E. BUNN AND SENECA WOODS COMPANY AND RECENTLY ANNEXED BY THE CITY OF HUNTINGTON

14. Appointment: HUNTINGTON MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY – James Hensley (1st term)

15. Appointment: URBAN FORESTRY COMMITTEE – James F. Duke, Jr. (1st term)

16. Confirmation of Reappointment: POLICE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION – David N. Harris (2nd term)

17. Confirmation of Appointment: HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE – Donna Rumbaugh (filling unexpired term to expire 6/30/2014)

18. Confirmation of Appointment: HUNTINGTON PLANNING COMMISSION – Edward Tucker (filling unexpired term to expire 1/26/2012)

19. Confirmation of Appointment: KYOVA INTERSTATE PLANNING COMMISSION – Charles Holley (1st term)

20. Confirmation of Appointment: KYOVA INTERSTATE PLANNING COMMISSION – David Hagley (1st term)

21. Adjournment

After Cabell County Board of Education Meeting

By: Alyssa Salyers

The Cabell County Board of Education approved the motion to supply Huntington Middle and Southside Elementary with a new turf playground at tonight’s meeting.

The turf project is estimated to cost $122,987.58 and being placed only in the damaged area of the playground.  Board member Garland Parsons challenged the motion and said that similar problems are occurring at schools in county.  He said he thought if one school was to be given funding for this issue then the board should find funding to give to the other schools dealing with this problem.  Parsons gave the board photos of Altizer Elementary’s playground that showed the need for turf at that school as well.  The board concluded with the approval of the turf at Southside and Huntington and plan to discuss other school playgrounds in the future. 

Members of the board tabled a motion to name the Central Office Executive Board Room until further researched could be done.  Daughter of Former Cabell County Board of Education president, Teresa Grant, requested that the board motion to name the board room after her late father, Ted. T Barr, who died while serving as president.  Members decided to continue the discussion after researching other past members who they thought also needed to be recognized.

The board announced that the budget was balanced and the county was in good standing.

The Superintendent presented the board with recent OEPA reports.  OEPA or office of education performance audits reports were done at both Central City and Huntington middle schools.  The OEPA’s mainly focused on the school’s test scores.  More reports will be done soon to see if different issues have improved including  West Test scores.

The Superintendent also showed members a national Newsweek were a county school, Enslow, was featured.

Cabell County Board of Education March 15, 2011

1000.

1064.

1065. 1066. 1067.

2000.

2148. 2149. 2150. 2151. 2152. 2153.

2154. 2155. 2156.

3000.

4000.

4164-P . 4165-P . 4166-P . 4167-P . 4168-P . 4169-P . 4170-P .

Agenda

CABELL COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION HUNTINGTON, WEST VIRGINIA Monday, March 15, 2010 5:30 P.M.

INFORMATIONAL ITEMS

RECOGNITION – ALL-STATE BAND AND CHOIR STUDENTS FROM CABELL MIDLAND HIGH SCHOOL COMMUNICA TIONS FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT DELEGATIONS TO BE HEARD

UPDA TE ON CONSTRUCTION

MINUTES, CONTRACTS, POLICIES, AND OTHER ITEMS

BOARD MEETING MINUTES SUPERINTENDENT’S REQUEST TO TRA VEL MEAL SUPERVISION AGREEMENT CONTRACTS SCHOOL TRIP REQUEST – CABELL MIDLAND HIGH SCHOOL SCHOOL TRIP REQUEST – CABELL MIDLAND HIGH SCHOOL CHANGE ORDER #022 FOR HUNTINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL AND SOUTHSIDE ELEMENTARY - BBL CARLTON, LLC- ELEVATOR SHAFT VENTS ATTENDANCE FULL DAY EXEMPTION 2009-2010 SCHOOL YEAR STUDENT TRANSFER REQUESTS SECOND READING AND ADOPTION – POLICY MANUAL UPDATES

FINANCIAL

NONE

PERSONNEL

PROFESSIONAL PERSONNEL:

RESIGNA TION(S) – PROFESSIONAL PERSONNEL REQUEST(S) FOR LEAVE OF ABSENCE – PROFESSIONAL PERSONNEL TRANSFER(S) - TEACHER RENEWAL OF CONTRACTS – PROFESSIONAL PERSONNEL EMPLOYMENT(S) – EXTRA-CURRICULAR ASSIGNMENT EMPLOYMENT(S) – SUBSTITUTE TEACHER RESIGNA TION(S) – COACHING4171-P.

EMPLOYMENT(S) – COACHING

4098-S. 4099-S. 4100-S. 4101-S. 4102-S.

4103-S.

4104-S. 4105-S.

5000.

5130. 5131.

6000.

SERVICE PERSONNEL:

REQUEST(S) FOR LEAVE OF ABSENCE – SERVICE PERSONNEL EMPLOYMENT(S) – SERVICE PERSONNEL TRANSFER(S) – SERVICE PERSONNEL RENEWAL OF CONTRACTS FOR THE 2010-2011 SCHOOL YEAR – SERVICE PERSONNEL RENEWAL OF SUBSTITUTE CONTRACTS FOR THE 2010-2011 SCHOOL YEAR – SERVICE PERSONNEL

RENEWAL OF EXTRA-CURRICULAR CONTRACTS FOR THE 2010-2011 SCHOOL YEAR – SERVICE PERSONNEL EMPLOYMENT(S) – SUBSTITUTE SERVICE PERSONNEL RESIGNATION(S) – SUBSTITUTE SERVICE PERSONNEL

SPECIAL BOARD ITEMS

EXECUTIVE SESSION - DISCUSSION OF ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY AND RELATED LEGAL MA TTERS EMPLOYEE DISCIPLINE - PROFESSIONAL

DISCUSSION

NONE

By: Alyssa Salyers

I will be attending this evenings Cabell County Board of Education this evening.  The board will be voting on the Meal Supervision Agreement Contracts. If passed this will allow school employees eat for free or receive reimbursement.

The agenda also calls approval on other items including the treasurer's report from last month.  The Superintendent also requests approval of the plan to put a synthetic turf at Huntington Middle School playground due to the lack of playground space the school has now.

Also the board will go over recent OEPA reports.