As necessary expenses climb, Kanawha County Commission passes 'most difficult' budget

Revenue is up $1.9 million, said County Finance Director Kim Fleck, but the property tax revenue part of that is only up $300,000. Other revenue sources include the property transfer tax and video lotteries.

The main increases in expenses were the jail bill, which increased by $500,000 to $5 million, and Public Employees Insurance Agency costs, which increased by $250,000. The total premium cost is $4.5 million with 80% paid by the county and 20% by employees, according to Fleck.

The county also pays for employee Health Savings Accounts equal to the PEIA plan deductibles. That cost is $1.4 million next year.

The commission established a Jail Bill Task Force to try to bring the jail bill down in the future.

The three largest budget cuts were:

• Eliminating a $600,000 transfer to the Rainy-Day Fund. The transfer will still likely take place with leftover funds from this year’s budget.

• Eliminating $100,000 that would go toward developing projects like large water projects or community items. This money could be pulled from special funds instead of the general fund.

• Reducing the employer retirement contribution in the Public Employees Retirement System from 9% to 8% per state regulation. This is a savings of $160,000.

The commission often grants funds to the public for different projects. Those funds typically come from special pots of money like gaming taxes that are not in the general budget.

Coal severance budget

The commission also approved the $975,000 coal severance budget, which is down about 30%. That money, which is a tax paid by the coal industry, is spent primarily in the Upper Kanawha Valley.

Fleck said cuts had to be made to Parks and Recreation and a grant program for small business owners in the area. There is still money left over for that grant program from this year’s budget.

Essential items like senior services, law enforcement, fire and county cleanup expenses were not cut.

“ Some of the things that I didn't want to see cut are being cut, but we are very prudent,� Commissioner Natalie Tennant said. “As I've looked at it a little deeper, I can see some cost saving measures too. And it's as simple as what type of envelopes we're going to use.�

“ There are things that we have been able to fund in the past that we didn't fund this year, maybe won't be able to fund in [2026, 2027],� Commission President Ben Salango said. “We have to be conservative and kind of prepared for the worst-case scenario because one thing we can’t cut are essential services.�