WHEELING — City council approved Wheeling’s preliminary budget for the upcoming fiscal year last week, one that largely resembles the city’s current budget.

After the Finance Committee met to discuss the budget Tuesday evening and recommended it to council, the full council unanimously voted to approve the city’s proposed 2019-2020 fiscal year budget.

The total budget comes in at about $34.9 million and is only $6,000 less than the current city budget. Revenues increased by less than 1 percent from year to year, Wheeling Finance Director Seth McIntyre said at the Finance Committee meeting.

“Overall, the changes are not huge,” McIntyre said.

With council’s approval, the budget will now be sent to the West Virginia State Auditor’s Office. Council will further discuss and make changes to the budget in June and July, around the start of the new fiscal year July 1.

McIntyre also fielded questions from council members at the Finance Committee meeting.

For one, Councilman Dave Palmer asked what percentage of the budget goes to employee salaries. About 67 percent of the city’s budget is personnel costs, McIntyre said.

“So it’s fair to say that operation of the city comes down to 33 cents on the dollar,” Palmer said.

In addition, Councilwoman Wendy Scatterday requested that council take a “very thorough examination” of its entire budget between now and July in order to reevaluate it. She recommended that council hold work sessions with each department regarding their budgets on a weekly or biweekly basis.

“I think right now there are efficiencies that we haven’t been able to realize,” Scatterday said.

Palmer agreed with Scatterday and said those discussions could begin at any time.

According to the budget, the city anticipates bringing in about $9.9 million from B&O tax in the upcoming fiscal year, its largest revenue source. It also anticipates generating $3.6 million from municipal sales tax and $3.5 million from property tax.

Fire and police protection continue to be Wheeling’s largest expenses, as the city intends to spend $10.6 million for the fire department and $8.22 million for the police department in the upcoming year.

The budget doesn’t include pay raises for city employees, but city officials noted those are typically added during discussions in July.

Also Tuesday, council approved Wheeling’s Coal Severance Budget for the 2019-2020 fiscal year after the Finance Committee discussed and approved it.