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By Dianne Weaver
It is budget month at the Calhoun Commission, the challenge of keeping
services
funded and the ship afloat. Despite an $18,000 projected increase in
revenue, the
shortfall is a reality. The regional jail bill and numerous other
mandates are eating
away the cash. The Commissioners, who met Monday evening, will
continue their
budget session on March 19 to complete the final document.
"It appears we will have at least a $100,000 budget shortfall this
year," according to
Commissioner President Bob Weaver. "We are struggling to keep health
benefits for
our low-paid county workers." He said budget requests for additional
operating funds
will be difficult to fund.
The Commission is probably applying for a record number of grants, but
grants rarely
provide funds for operating expenses. Considerable discussion centered
on the
possibility of tax revenues being raised by deep well drilling. "So
far it has been
difficult to project," said Weaver. "It could mean a lot of money for
the county."
Mandates continue to eat away the budgets of rural counties. The
Calhoun
Commission received a budget request from the State Tax Department for
the State
Computer Network for $30,989. The new computer system, currently used
by the
Calhoun Assessor, has been mandated. County Clerk Richard Kirby said
the county
was also mandated to purchase $25,000 for new computers for the
Assessor.
"It is becoming more difficult to balance the new budget every year,"
according to
Commissioner Larry McCallister. "We could be a little better at the
end of this year
than last. It will help a little." Next year is now the challenge.
The West Virginia Supreme Court, which has jurisdiction over
magistrate courts,
nearly doubled their charges for the annual local audit of
magistrates, jumping costs
from about $3600 to $7200. The magistrate court does not generate
enough money
locally to pay for the audit.
The Supreme Court has shifted the responsibility of all domestic
violence cases to the
Circuit Court and their Circuit Clerks. The local magistrates
previously processed the
cases, which will soon be transferred to the Circuit Clerk within 24
hours. The Unified
Family Court system was approved by the voters of West Virginia.
Locally, Larry
Whited will be the Family Court Judge, with his position eventually
being placed on
the ballot.
Calhoun's Circuit Clerk Shelia Garretson said this mandate increases
her caseload by
at least 60 filings. Garretson, whose office is busy from early in the
morning and
sometimes late into the evening, is concerned about delivering the
services. The
Supreme Court did not make an allowance for reimbursing the local
government. "The
overall paperwork has increased nearly 50% in the past five years,"
said
Garretson.
Garretson's office has assumed divorce cases from the Family Law
Master, without
additional funding. Her office already processes criminal, civil and
juvenile court
cases.
The Legislature, over a period of years, has continued to hand out
unfunded
mandates or passed legislation which decreased county revenues. A
recent example
was the Managed Timberlands Bill, which decreased taxes by over 60% to
qualified
applicants to manage their timber stands.
The bill was touted to help the little wood lot owner, but over 90% of
the recipients
were large timber corporations who were already managing their timber.
Some
counties lost two to three hundred thousand dollars annually with the
tax break.
"Every instance when we have been told 'this will save you money,' it
always costs a
lot more than it did before, without exception," said Commissioner
David Barr. Barr
said much of county government has been taken to Charleston. "We have
become
their agents and office workers - and then they send us a bill for
doing their work."
"The mandated increase in salaries for elected officials was a hard
knock on our
budget a few years ago," said Clerk Kirby. Calhoun's elected officials
have
consistently rejected pay raises to keep the budget in balance. His
office is now
being mandated to deliver a new voter registration system, with the
state sharing
50% of the cost.
Commissioner Weaver said the handwriting is on the wall. "I think it
is the systematic
dismantling of counties. Citizens should be really concerned. If
taxpayers believe they
will get a better deal consolidating counties, they had better think
again. Taxes will
be adjusted upwards and the clerks who deliver services will be paid
better salaries.
Local government, despite all complaints, is a bargain," according to
Weaver.
"You can play 'if only' with the counties economic problems, but the
bottom line is at
least 26 West Virginia counties are in extreme distress, extreme
competition for
jobs," said Weaver. There have been a half-dozen efforts in the past
two years to
locate basic jobs here. They have failed. We will keep at it."
Weaver said the county has been unable to access economic development
money
recently, but that could change with a joint venture being proposed
with Wirt County.
Two county authorities receive twice as much money as single county
authorities.
The counties tax base is stagnant, and much of the population is
eligible for
Homestead Exemption and agricultural exemptions.
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