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Wheeling Council Tackling $33.9 Million Budget

WHEELING — City Manager Robert Herron fielded more questions than usual from city council members regarding his annual budget proposal, during a Tuesday hearing about the $33.9 million spending plan for fiscal 2017-18.

That’s only natural, considering six of the seven council members — including Mayor Glenn Elliott — who will vote to approve the spending plan took office July 1, meaning this is their first time dealing with the budget process.

At this point, the budget does not contain any pay raises for employees, nor does it provide funds for four new employees Police Chief Shawn Schwertfeger wants for his department.

“Where can we see the light in terms of being able to fund other staffing positions?” Councilwoman Wendy Scatterday asked Herron.

Herron told Scatterday and other council members that he did not feel comfortable adding the positions at this time because it is still too early. The 2016-17 fiscal year ends June 30, which is the point when the city typically provides for pay raises or new employees.

“We are at a point where revenues are, I think, going to exceed expenditures,” Herron said regarding the potential of funding raises or new employees at the end of the fiscal year. “The key to this document is that it is an operating budget.”

Scatterday, an architect by trade, also expressed concern about staffing in the Economic and Community Development Department, specifically building inspectors.

“Our building inspection department is fairly stretched right now,” she said. “Frankly, I want to make sure we are going to be able to service all of the incoming development.”

Wheeling continues to rely on the business and occupation tax as its largest source of revenue. According to the budget projection, Herron expects receipts to increase slightly in the next fiscal year to $6.65 million, along with another $2.85 million in delinquent B&O taxes the city intends to collect. Each projection is $100,000 greater than the amounts approved for the current fiscal year.

“I don’t know anyone who likes the B&O tax,” Elliott observed.

Herron said the previous council voted to cut the B&O tax rates by about 6 percent to “help out the business community.”

In conjunction with the B&O tax reduction, council enacted a 1-percent sales tax. This year, municipal sales tax collections are expected to grow by $20,000 to reach $3.12 million.

Health care expenses will increase for both the city and its individual employees in the new fiscal year. Each municipal employee will see their monthly premium jump from $307.40 for a family plan to $342.03 per month, while the cost of a single plan will increase from $111.40 per month to $124.38 monthly.

Councilman Dave Palmer questioned Herron about the “trailer camp license” fee, which the budget shows should generate $7,500 for the new year. Herron said this applies to anyone operating a trailer camp to accommodate oil and natural gas industry workers within city limits.

Council will hold another meeting to discuss the $33.9 million proposed budget at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in council chambers at the City-County Building, 1500 Chapline St. The schedule calls for officials to adopt the budget on March 21, and lay the levy rate on April 18. The budget will ultimately be sent to the West Virginia State Auditor’s Office for approval.

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