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