Photo by Joselyn King Ohio County commissioners Don Nickerson, left, and Randy Wharton discuss issues at the start of Monday afternoon’s commission meeting.

WHEELING – Ohio County officials project a $2 million loss in budget revenue for next year, but for now there will be no cut backs or new taxes, according to County Administrator Randy Russell.

Ohio County’s projected budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year is $24,749,400. This is a flat budget with no significant increases or decreases as projected revenue is down about $2 million, he told commissioners at their meeting Monday afternoon.

“A few things are concerning,” Russell said. “This is the result of a slow down of significant construction projects in the county – including highways, roads, and new gas and oil well pads.

“There has also been a significant decrease in personal property tax in the county, and a significant decrease in the value of used cars.”

The county also experienced a $5 million loss per year in coal severance revenues, which is the result of the Tunnel Ridge Mine no longer mining in Ohio County, he continued. Oil and gas revenue also continues to decline by about 10% a year in the county.

“We were able to move some items, and are recommending a flat budget for the coming year with no significant increase or decrease in any particular line item. But we will need to watch the budget closely this year to see how revenues flow in,” Russell explained

Commissioners Randy Wharton and Don Nickerson attended the meeting, which took place Monday afternoon in the second floor courtroom at the City-County Building because of on-going construction in the building. Wharton ran the meeting as Commission President Zach Abraham participated via Zoom call.

Demolition on most of the second floor is almost complete, project coordinator Melissa Marco told commissioners. The second floor courtroom and County Prosecutor’s Office are still accessible, though a temporary wall has been constructed to stop visitors from going left when exiting the elevator on the second floor.

“If you were to open up the wall and look on the other side it might scare you, but that’s the way it’s supposed to look,” she said.

The commissioners will next meet on April 15, with a time and location to be announced.