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City Council working on $20.9M budget for fiscal year 2017-2018

BUDGET PLANNING — City Manager Travis Blosser addresses members of council Friday during a work session to lay out the general fund and coal severance budgets for the 2017-2018 fiscal year, which will begin July 1. Council is scheduled to vote on the budget during its March meeting. -- Craig Howell

WEIRTON — The City of Weirton is looking at a budget of approximately $20.9 million for the 2017-2018 fiscal year.

On Friday, city council convened in a work session where City Manager Travis Blosser laid out an outline for a total budget of $20,920,266. The funds would include $17,196,596 for operations and $2,895,670 in a carryover fund.

As outlined, much of the general fund revenue will come from six sources: Ad Valorum $2,573,943; 2 percent utilities excise tax $1,175,000; Business and Occupation tax $4,700,000; 1 percent sales tax $2,050,000; refuse collection $1,319,000; and police and fire service fee $2,412,347.

“We’ve seen some decline in revenue,” Blosser said, noting, in particular, a continued loss of funding from table gaming and video lottery. “We’re seeing that all across the state.”

Revenue decreases also are expected in the 2 percent excise tax, B&O, municipal service fee and the hotel occupancy tax.

Blosser explained much of the revenue figures are still only estimates, in particular noting the 1 percent sales tax. To date, the tax has been collected for only two fiscal quarters, bringing in approximately $980,000.

“We were very, very conservative with this estimate going on,” Blosser said.

Planned expenses include $4,957,024 for general government; $8,342,780 for public safety; $3,230,789 for streets and transportation; $1,278,536 for health and sanitation; $1,168,137 for culture and recreation; $15,000 for social services and $1,100,000 for capital projects. Blosser explained the majority of the capital projects funds will go toward paving.

Additional expenses include $25,000 for the Business Development Corp. and $90,000 for Sustainable Strategies as part of economic development projects; $22,428 for the ongoing update to the Comprehensive Development Plan; $10,000 for demolition of a city-owned storage property on Gilson Avenue; $25,000 for upgrades to the Public Works building; $15,000 for beautification; and $40,000 for an engineering consultant on continuing federal storm water regulations.

Other requests from the general fund include $579,000 for the Park Board; $389,137 for the Mary H. Weir Public Library; and $55,000 for the Weirton Transit Corp.

Blosser also outlined a contribution of $200,000 to the financial stabilization fund; $1,000,000 for operating cash and $230,152 in contingencies.

The budget is scheduled to be presented to council for approval at its regular March meeting.

(Howell can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com, and followed via Twitter @CHowellWDT)

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