Oct. 1, 2010
Huntington Council Approves Revision That Replenishes Contingency Fund
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) – The Wolfe Administration and Huntington City Council agreed Monday, September 27, to a budget revision that keeps the contingency fund at approximately $560,000. Although the vote was unanimous, the process of working out the details had its share of challenges.
At last week’s Finance Committee meeting, city Finance Director Deron Runyon had asked for council to approve a $38,000 contingency balance necessitated by unexpected end of the year obligations previously not accounted in previous budget reports. Simultaneously, the carryover into the Fiscal 2010-2011 budget from the general fund had shrunk to $114,000.
Council members did not feel the city could operate effectively with a contingency (or emergency) fund of less than $40,000 only three months into the fiscal year. The budget number crunching alarmed council member Jim Ritter who threatened to vote against the Home Rule revised amendment.
A meeting of the full Finance Committee with the Mayor and department heads had to be cancelled once it was discovered that the meeting had to be open to both the press and public. Instead, the mayor met with the council chairman (Jim Insco), council finance chairman (Steve Williams) and councilman Russ Houck.
During the three hour meeting, the group whittled away at several aspects of the already lean 2010-2011 budget.
They agreed that temporarily eliminating funding for ten unfilled positions in the police and fire departments would not impact the safety of the city. The positions have been vacant for months.
HPD has two positions vacant which cannot be filled until May 2011 due to lack of a hiring list. New police hires must attend the State Police Academy for training , too. The salaries and benefits for 10 months of salaries total about $118,000.
The Huntington Fire Department eliminated $179,000 which had been earmarked for hiring five firefighters. Fire Chief Craig Moore hoped to fill the positions in January.
Additional funding came from unfilled positions in the Streets and Inspections departments. All positions remain in the budget and could be filled as funds and /or personnel become available.
“Council is not moving the positions,” Jim Insco explained. “The money came be restored [later in the year] if there is money.”
Money to fill the so-called rainy day fund also came from the Big Sandy Superstore Arena ($30,000); $139,000 in additional savings from liability /property/casualty insurance; and $74,000 in medical insurance saved in benefits from the unfilled positions.
OTHER BUSINESS
Council approved budget revisions that added totals for federal and state grants; they approved a Coal Severance Tax allocation to the BSSA; and in the words of Jim Ritter “echoed” the freeze in nonessential purchases and hiring already in place by the Wolfe administration.
Council also heard first reading of two Sanitary Board projects, including one at 13th Street West where the road has been closed as too dangerous, and a transportation enhancement grant of $160,000 for design on the Paul Ambrose Trail.
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Huntington Council Approves Revision That Replenishes Contingency Fund
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) – The Wolfe Administration and Huntington City Council agreed Monday, September 27, to a budget revision that keeps the contingency fund at approximately $560,000. Although the vote was unanimous, the process of working out the details had its share of challenges.
At last week’s Finance Committee meeting, city Finance Director Deron Runyon had asked for council to approve a $38,000 contingency balance necessitated by unexpected end of the year obligations previously not accounted in previous budget reports. Simultaneously, the carryover into the Fiscal 2010-2011 budget from the general fund had shrunk to $114,000.
Council members did not feel the city could operate effectively with a contingency (or emergency) fund of less than $40,000 only three months into the fiscal year. The budget number crunching alarmed council member Jim Ritter who threatened to vote against the Home Rule revised amendment.
A meeting of the full Finance Committee with the Mayor and department heads had to be cancelled once it was discovered that the meeting had to be open to both the press and public. Instead, the mayor met with the council chairman (Jim Insco), council finance chairman (Steve Williams) and councilman Russ Houck.
During the three hour meeting, the group whittled away at several aspects of the already lean 2010-2011 budget.
They agreed that temporarily eliminating funding for ten unfilled positions in the police and fire departments would not impact the safety of the city. The positions have been vacant for months.
HPD has two positions vacant which cannot be filled until May 2011 due to lack of a hiring list. New police hires must attend the State Police Academy for training , too. The salaries and benefits for 10 months of salaries total about $118,000.
The Huntington Fire Department eliminated $179,000 which had been earmarked for hiring five firefighters. Fire Chief Craig Moore hoped to fill the positions in January.
Additional funding came from unfilled positions in the Streets and Inspections departments. All positions remain in the budget and could be filled as funds and /or personnel become available.
“Council is not moving the positions,” Jim Insco explained. “The money came be restored [later in the year] if there is money.”
Money to fill the so-called rainy day fund also came from the Big Sandy Superstore Arena ($30,000); $139,000 in additional savings from liability /property/casualty insurance; and $74,000 in medical insurance saved in benefits from the unfilled positions.
OTHER BUSINESS
Council approved budget revisions that added totals for federal and state grants; they approved a Coal Severance Tax allocation to the BSSA; and in the words of Jim Ritter “echoed” the freeze in nonessential purchases and hiring already in place by the Wolfe administration.
Council also heard first reading of two Sanitary Board projects, including one at 13th Street West where the road has been closed as too dangerous, and a transportation enhancement grant of $160,000 for design on the Paul Ambrose Trail.
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