Potential Lewis County (West Virginia) raises highlight fiscal year budget

During an emergency meeting Wednesday, Commission President Bobby Stewart said $7-10,000 is included in the budget to give employee raises.

“We approved with the intent to give every employee a three percent raise,” Stewart said after the budget was approved. “However, every elected official has the right to determine how that three percent ... is added to their employees.

“We give it to their budget and then it’s up to them to finalize how they want to distribute that to their employees. They make the final decision.”

Commissioners, who thought of the raises after meeting with department elected officials during the past few weeks, held a 15-minute emergency meeting Wednesday to discuss the raises and authorize consultant/former county administrator Cindy Whetsell to rework final budget numbers to include the raises.

There are a few less than 100 employees employed by the county. That number also fluctuates with part-time or temporary staff, such as in Lewis County Park.

Circuit Clerk Beth Burkhart said she advocated for raises for her deputy clerks.

“I ask every year for some kind of increase for my staff,” Burkhart said. “I always try to save on supplies — I’m a very conservative person and run my office that way — but when it comes to the staff with the cost of living and salary increases in other jobs, I always ask for the commission if they can to please budget for an increase to my department.”

Commissioner Agnes Queen is the longest-serving active commissioner, having been elected in 2006.

“Our budget is very solid. There were years where we were concerned whether or not we were able to retain staff, but we’re good to go and excited that we have a strong budget,” she said.

The courthouse is allocated the most money in fiscal year 2025, Queen said, followed by the county sheriff’s department. According to the legal advertisement, more than $3.1 million is allocated toward the courthouse.

“Infrastructure and development” are ways commissioners hope to use their allocation, according to Stewart.

An additional $1.81 million was also allocated toward the courthouse under capital projects.

More than $2.76 million is allocated toward public safety, in 10 line items that include law enforcement, regional jail and courthouse security.

“(Departments are allocated) what they ask for if it’s within reason,” Commissioner Rod Wyman said.

Wyman said Lewis/Gilmer E-911’s budget changed the most. However, the department is sustained through wireless fees, according to Stewart.

The funding plan also included a $2.5 million fund balance. According to the local government services division of the state auditor’s office, the projected fund balance for July 1 should be revised by July 30.

The budgets were scanned and emailed to the state auditors office by the end of Thursday.

The county’s coal severance tax budget — $36,902 — was also unanimously approved. All of the expected revenue was allocated toward the six county fire departments.