WAYNE ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” Wayne CountyÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s recently approved budget for Fiscal Year 2025-26 includes a 5% across-the-board raise for county employees and a $20,000 increase in funding for the Huntington Cabell Wayne Animal Control Shelter.
Other changes in the budget, which was approved Monday, include increased expenditures for the Dog Warden/Humane Society from $80,000 to $100,000.
As in last yearÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s budget, all county departments are getting pay raises for employees. However, in FY26, the raises will be done across the board at the same percentage, Budget Clerk Karen Christian said following the March 24 meeting.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWe always try to do as much as we can for all of the office holders and also be as fair as we can through this process,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Commission President Travis Thompson said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWe always would like to do more, but this year specifically, our tax revenue was down over $100,000 ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” so weÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™re getting less money coming in for the budget this year; our insurance is increasing ... and the other factor that we just donÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t know yet is our county-wide EMS (stations) that weÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™re having to stand up this year.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
According to the budgets for FY25 and FY26, the estimated property tax revenue is expected to decrease by $103,552 ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” from $6,634,592 in FY25 to $6,531,040 in FY26.
However, the total estimated revenues and total expenditures for the county increased as follows from the county budget for FY25 to the county budget for FY26:
Total estimated revenues and total expenditures for the general fund ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” $4,370,632 increase; from $14,974,461 in FY25 to $19,345,093 in FY26
Total estimated revenues and total expenditures for the coal severance tax fund ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” $20,000 increase; from $100,000 in FY25 to $120,000 in FY26 (this fund went to the the line items Dog Warden/Humane Society and Solid Waste Authority during both fiscal years)
The budget for FY26 is given a boost by following a canvass of the 2024 primary election and will go into effect July 1, 2025.
As the old excess levy did, the new excess levy raises funding for fire departments/fire protection, libraries and the local health department (at the same rate the old excess levy used for raising funding for libraries and the local health department), but it also adds on raising funding for county-approved EMS provider/mutual aid participants supplemental assistance and the county-operated EMS service and increases the levy rate connected with fire department funding.
Changes in expenditures
Expenditures for other entities are reduced in FY26, with a $1,552 funding decrease for the Library/Libraries and a $1,254 funding decrease for the Local Health Department line items.
Funding also increased in several areas in addition to the animal shelter.
The General Government section of the budget is increased by $1,771,785 and the Public Safety line item increased by $2,162,220.
Jesten Richardson is a reporter and can be reached at jrichardson@hdmediallc.com and found on X (formerly Twitter) at @JRichardsonHD.
