WIRT GROUP ASKING FOR OPERATING LEVY - County On Verge Of Collapse, Offutt Will Not Run Again

(01/11/2002)
A Wirt County group will be asking the Wirt Commission to place a special operating levy on the May ballot to "save the county" from financial collapse.

The Commission is expected to try the initiative again to preserve the county, which is facing imminent bankruptcy.

Wirt County Commissioner Lention Offutt has said "Wirt County has struggled financially (during the past five years). This past August our county jail was closed permanently with the opening of the regional jail in Doddridge County. This has made a heavy financial burden on our county."

Offutt said the county has only stayed afloat the past two years because of band-aid money provided by the State of West Virginia.

He said "This aid is not likely to continue," and asked that Wirt citizens support a special operating levy.

Offutt announced he would not run for re-election to the commission at the end of his term in 2002.