KINGWOOD — Preston County Commissioners took a conservative approach to the 2019-‘20 budget, with no raises, less carryover projected and more money set aside for regional jail costs.
Commissioners Dave Price, Don Smith and Samantha Stone approved the tentative budget Monday. It now goes to the state for approval before it can be finalized.
The projected $8,806,738 budget is $221,165 less than the current fiscal year budget of $9,027,903. That’s despite a projected increase of $40,000 in coal severance tax receipts and an increase of $79,835 in property taxes.
The difference is that commissioners lowered their estimates of how much in unappropriated funds will be carried over from this fiscal year to the next.
The county budgeted $925,000 for regional jail expenses in the new fiscal year. This year $565,000 is expected to be spent on jail costs, much of it from funds that had to be drawn from other accounts when it became apparent enough hadn’t been budgeted for rising jail bills.
The per diem fee at the jail has not increased; more people are being sent to jail. Prosecutor Melvin C. Snyder III has said that’s a reflection of rising crime and better enforcement.
Price said “salary adjustments” may be considered for employees if more money comes in than expected or costs are less.
The projected budget includes leasing a new K-9 cruiser for the sheriff’s department, replacing an old one. The county will continue to provide Iamresponding software for county first responders, help cover the matching cost for a grant to scan county documents, buy computers for the sheriff’s department and assessor’s office, and help cover the cost of extraditions.
Agencies not part of county government funded were: Family Resource Network, $6.750; Preston Prevention Partnership, $2,000; Kingwood and Terra Alta public libraries, $1,000 each; Soil Conservation Service, $3,000; Run For It, $2,000; and the seven county ambulance squads, $3,000 each.
Three agencies were funded at 75 percent of current funding. The 12 county volunteer fire departments will receive $2,250 each; Preston County Economic Development Authority, $22,700; and county health department, $23,057.
The budget includes a 2 percent contingency fund.
Commissioners also:
heard from Commissioner Smith that the Preston County Solid Waste Authority is in the early stages of talking with a Pennsylvania company about providing glass recycling to the county.
agreed to the hiring of Scott Blake Deal as a utility officer, starting April 1 at $10.48 per hour.
hired Sarah Spahr as a custodian, starting at $10.50 per hour.
heard the report of Teresa Lispcomb of the Bretz Community Association about renovations and use of the Bretz Community Building. The commission agreed to another five-year lease of the building to the association.
agreed that Preston Addressing Coordinator Clark Nicklow will work with the Town of Rowlesburg to do 911 addresses for town residents. Rowlesburg was the only town in the county not to participate in 911 addressing about 10 years ago. There will be no cost to the county or town.
