| An Associated Press study says Calhoun County received more Budget Digest
money per citizen than any other of the state's 54 counties - $434,344 or $57
for each county citizen.
If that is true, no one around Calhoun seems to know it.
Del. Bill Stemple's list of Budget Digest approvals disputes that amount.
Stemple's list shows only $139,180 for the county.
Stemple said he was unaware of where the AP got their numbers, saying their
numbers are wrong.
Stemple said "My Budget Digest money was on the list we provided the county
($139,180)."
The AP said they pulled the numbers from the Budget Digest list for all senators and delegates, which also included $150,000 for the Little Kanawha Bus Company, which also operates in other counties.
Still, adding the $150,000 for LK Bus Company to Del. Stemple's $139,000 list, the total is $289,000.
Lawmakers say the amount of money recommended for each county should be
weighed by population. By that standard, Calhoun County tops the list, says
the AP.
The Associated Press reports a handful of counties stand to get a healthy
share of the $27 million, including Speaker Bob Kiss' Raleigh County.
An analysis of the digest by The Associated Press shows that five of the
state's 55 counties - Raleigh, Kanawha, Cabell, Marion and Mingo are
earmarked for at least one million dollars.
The AP says only five other counties stand to receive more than 40 dollars per
resident from the digest. They are Pendleton, Hardy, Grant, Hampshire and
Webster counties.
Lawmakers stress that the digest recommends spending, and does not
mandate it. The digest also makes up a fraction of the state's three billion
dollar budget.
The AP study, which is in dispute, shows the following allocations, population
of county and amount of money for each citizen:
1. Calhoun $434,344 7,582 $57.29
2. Pendleton $450,864 8,196 $55.01
3. Hardy $689,635 12,669 $54.43
4. Hampshire $892,364 20,203 $44.17
5. Grant $498,494 11,299 $44.12
6. Webster $399,844 9,719 $41.14
7. Summers $519,344 12,999 $39.95
8. Mingo $1,047,729 28,253 $37.08
9. Gilmer $249,844 7,610 $34.89
10. Wirt $194,844 5,873 $33.18
The list of Budget Digest Projects funded in Calhoun, Clay and Gilmer supplied
by Del. William Stemple, June 2004:
Del. Stemple represents only part of Clay and Gilmer.
Calhoun County Schools $27,000
Pleasant Hill Elementary School -$4,500
Calhoun County Committee on Aging - $25,000
Calhoun County Wood Festival - $2,000
Appalachian Bike Race - $1,500
Calhoun County Public Library - $7,000
Calhoun County Clerk - $17,500
West Fork Riding Club - $2,000
Grantsville VFD - $5,000
Upper West Fork VFD - $5,000
Arnoldsburg VFD - $5,000
City of Grantsville (end loader/backhoe) $5,000
West Fork Community Action (tractor) $5,000
Upper West Fork Park (storage) $5,000
Arnoldsburg Elementary School $4,680
Calhoun-Gilmer Career Center $9,000
Calhoun Middle/High School (library/computers) $9,000
Total - $139,180
CLAY COUNTY
Clay High School - $3,600
Ivydale Elementary - $4,500
Valley Fork Elementary - $2,700
H. E. White Elementary - $1,800
Clay Senior Citizen's Center - $25,000
Clay County Primary Care - $48,000
Widen Days Festival - $2,000
Clay County Golden Delicious Festival - $5,000
Clay County Communications (trailer) - $5,000
Clay County Health Department (generator) - $10,000
Clay Co. Drivers for Food (van) - $6,500
Clay Co. Commission (new ambulance) $30,000
Clay Co. Sheriff's Dept. (equipment) - $5,000
Multi-Cap, Inc. (handyman program) - $10,000
Big Otter VFD - $5,000
Clay Elementary School $4,680
Total - $168,780
GILMER COUNTY
Gilmer Senior Citziens (building/landfill) $40,000
Gilmer County Schools - $9,000
Gilmer County Farm Show - $3,500
Gilmer Co. Commission (new fire department) - $12,500
Total - $96,500
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