St. Albans council has approved a $10.8 million budget for the financial year that begins July 1.
The amount is $60,080 less than the current budget.
Ward 8 Councilman and Finance Committee Chairman Kevin Pennington passed out a fact sheet during a budget work session prior to Monday's council meeting.
The fact sheet shows the new budget anticipates a decrease in city business and occupation tax revenue and a decrease in the services fees the city receives for street maintenance, trash collection, police and fire protection and the maintenance of city parks. Also, property taxes are expected to generate $57,135 less in the new year.
The cost of liability insurance is expected to increase by $75,000.
The city's contribution to the police and fire pension funds will each increase by 7 percent, as required by law. The contribution will increase by $19,287 for the police fund and $18,126 for the fire fund.
Expenses for the 2017 primary and general elections are estimated at $42,500.
The city also expects to pay $100,331 to continue lease-purchase agreements on vehicles.
Pennington said the city's paving budget will be $300,000, unchanged from the current year.
In order to save $305,000 on up-front expenditures in the new year, the city will sign lease-purchase agreements for three public works vehicles and three police cruisers, Pennington said.
Also, hospitalization costs are expected to increase. Most of the increase will be shouldered by city employees, whose contribution will increase by 3 percent. City Clerk Barbara Hughes said the monthly premiums will increase by $30 for family policies and $15 for single policies.
In response to a question by Councilman-at-large John Caudill IV, Hughes said the employee contribution was last increased in 2010.
"One of the other cuts is the contribution to the library," Pennington said.
This year's budget includes $97,000 for the library. The library requested $127,000 in the new year. The new budget is for $50,000.
"We love our public library but we just had to make the cuts," Pennington said. "We made cuts across the board. We had to make some tough decisions."
Rebecca Goodwin, chairwoman of the St. Albans Public Library Advisory Board, objected to the reduction during a public comment period at the end of the work session. Goodwin noted that Pennington used the word "contribution" when speaking of the city's library funding.
"I'd like to suggest to you 'obligation' is a better word," she said.
"In 1962, the Kanawha County Library Board agreed to take over the library, which was being built at the time, and operate it as a branch," Goodwin said. "One of the conditions was that St. Albans would pay a share of expenses based on property taxes.
"Since 1962 the city has essentially honored this commitment."
The direct cost to operate the library is $429,786, she said, adding that the $50,000 recommended is less than half the portion the council agreed to in 1962.
"It's essential you honor that commitment and budget at least $97,000," she said. "It's not a contribution, it's an obligation this council took on in 1962. So we ask you to reconsider.
"We accept the fact it won't be the full amount the agreement called for - $100,000-plus - but please, at least $97,000."
Ward 7 Councilman Desper Lemon said the cut hurts "but I understand it. I'm satisfied with what I see."
Ward 3 Councilman Ron Colby asked if council will have to look at increasing revenues if money doesn't come in as expected during the new year.
"We haven't looked at that," Pennington said. "We're trying to be conservative."
Ward 1 Councilman Robert Keiffer, Ward 5 Councilman Christopher Withrow and Councilman-at-large John Boles Jr., who is fighting health issues, did not attend the work session.
During the regular council meeting, council approved the budget as proposed. Colby cast the lone dissenting vote. Withrow and Boles were the only council members who were absent.
In addition to the general fund budget, council approved a coal severance tax budget of $15,050, which is $34,458 less than the amount budgeted in the current year. Pennington said that because of the decline of the coal industry, the city actually isn't counting on any coal severance tax revenue in the new year.
In other action during the regular meeting, council approved the replacement of police officers' firearms for $16,305 from Vance's Law Enforcement of Columbus, Ohio. The city will trade in old weapons to save on the purchase. The firearms will be bought with money seized in criminal cases.
Council also agreed to purchase holsters and magazines for the new firearms for $3,068 from Vance's Law Enforcement.
In addition, council voted to have a new street light installed at 804 Hudson St. and agreed to pay current invoices, which total $4,466.
During announcements, Hansford Senior Center Director Kathy Barnett said the center will be closed today. Barnett said she hopes the center will reopen on Wednesday. The center's Easter program will be at 11 a.m. Friday.
Also, it was announced that the annual Easter egg hunt will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at City Park and the third annual nature hike will be on April 9 at City Park. Pennington said the Parks Department now has a Facebook page.
During the public forum Rick Hartman, of South Washington Street, complained about the lack of maintenance at Cunningham Cemetery. Kanawha Magistrate Brent Hall, who is running for re-election on May 10, asked citizens to vote for him.
Council's next meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. April 4 on the second floor of the municipal building at 51 Sixth Ave.