Weirton begins planning for 22-23 budget
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WEIRTON -- City officials gathered Saturday morning for the first round of discussions on formulating a municipal budget for the 2022-23 fiscal year, set to begin July 1.
According to the presentation by Finance Director Diana Smoljanovich, current estimates anticipate the city having a budget of $27,853,192. This would include an operating revenue of $22,333,692 and a carryover from the current fiscal year of $5,519,500.
Smoljanovich and City Manager Mike Adams have been meeting with representatives of each municipal department in order to craft the draft budget, with several areas touched upon Saturday.
"We included every request that was made by our department heads," she said.
Among the major revenue sources, the city is anticipating $70,000 from the gas and oil tax, $1,100,000 from the 2% utilities excise tax, $4,200,000 from the business and occupation tax, $425,000 from the hotel occupancy tax and $3,200,000 from the 1% city sales tax.
Additional revenue would come from various fines, fees and grants.
"I'm being very, very conservative on the income side," Smoljanovich said.
The city also is expecting approximately $5 million, representing the second half of Weirton's allotment from the American Rescue Plan.
On the expense side, the city is proposing $57,500 for economic development, a decrease from this year's $106,500, with Smoljanovich noting the city has rarely gone above $40,000 in expenses in that area.
One area of increase noted was for the Inspections Department, with Ward 4 Councilman George Ash requesting $250,000 be set aside for demolitions instead of the $180,000 which had been planned.
"We have seven or eight waiting to be demolished right now," Ash said.
City Attorney Vince Gurrera noted six of those buildings are on West Street, with the demolitions on hold until recently because of litigation.
Approximately $1.4 million has been set aside to address renovations to the Weirton Municipal Building, which Smoljanovich noted needs repair to the roof, façade, concrete and restrooms, as well as new carpet.
"We're going to need to get some bids and estimates," she said, explaining the proposed cost is based off a proposal from approximately four years ago.
Ward 5 Councilwoman Flora Perrone asked if any of the work could be addressed in-house, with Public Works Director Rod Rosnick saying his staff could take care of concrete work, but the rest would have to be contracted out.
Plans also call for $2.7 million to be placed into the contingency funds, with reviews of Public Works, Electrical, Finance, Community Development and more featured Saturday.
A second workshop, set for 6 p.m. Thursday, will review other areas, including the police and fire departments, street and sanitation, parks and the library.
(Howell can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com, and followed via Twitter @CHowellWDT)