Trending
WEIRTON -- City council will be asked to vote on what officials anticipate to be the first of a series of budget revisions for the remainder of the fiscal year, as part of the agenda for Monday's regular meeting.
The revision was part of recommendations made Wednesday by the city's Finance Committee. Council will meet at 7 p.m. Monday.
According to Finance Director Diana Smoljanovich, a large portion of the revisions is the result of pay raises approved for some employees last year.
"We're just hitting the tip of the iceberg on this," she said, noting discussions had been held since June.
As part of the proposal, the city is anticipating an additional $20,000 in revenue from the gas and oil severance tax, $45,000 from the hotel occupancy tax, $750,000 from the sales tax, $75,000 more from the Interstate Registration Plan fees, $50,000 in police protection fees, $50,000 in fire service fees and $65,000 more in federal government grants.
The city is decreasing its unassigned fund balance by $454,882.
Under the expenditure side, the city is looking at $2,500 more in expenses for the City Manager's Office, $10,885 for the Finance Office, $13,475 for Community Development (Housing), $8,505 for Building Inspection, $19,500 for Public Works, $299,559 for the police department, $333,309 for the fire department, $1,695 for dog warden/humane society, $21,925 for the police communication center, $12,235 more for streets and highways, $525 more for the central garage and $78,135 for the garbage department.
A decrease of $2,130 in expenses will be seen in the police judge's office, and of $200,000 in the contingencies.
Smoljanovich reiterated the increased expenses for the police and fire departments primarily are a result of efforts by the city to pay down pension plans, using the city's 1 percent sales tax.
"That wipes out our 1 percent sales tax every year," she said, noting that is going to be the case for at least eight years.
City Manager Joe DiBartolomeo agreed, saying the sales tax revenue essentially passes through the city's coffers while the pension issues are being addressed.
"We're just a conduit," DiBartolomeo said, adding the pension was never truly addressed by previous city administrations.
In other business, the Finance Committee recommended the purchase of 25 Cairns 1044 fire helmets, for the Weirton Fire Department, at a cost of $8,482 from Witmer Public Safety Group.
"The helmets we're using currently have a 10-year shelf life," explained Capt. Dan Mastrantoni, noting many are close to, or beyond, that limit.
In an effort to cut costs, the department also is switching to having black helmets for all firefighters in the department, with the exception of the chief, instead of having separate colors to denote the various officer positions.
Smoljanovich noted the contract is $3,000 below what the city had budgeted for the purchase.
In other business, the committee also recommended the placement of liens on two residential properties in the city. The first, at 316 Ohio St., would be for $8,948.75, with the second, at 3623 West St. Extension, for $12,237.75. Both are for the costs of demolition.
(Howell can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com, and followed via Twitter @CHowellWDT)