LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS — Members of Weirton Council met in a workshop session Wednesday evening for the first official look at proposals for the city’s 2025-2026 fiscal year budgets. A second workshop will be held at 6 p.m., Feb. 19. -- Craig Howell

WEIRTON — With about six weeks before having to submit it to the state, Weirton Council met Wednesday for their first official discussion on proposals for the city’s 2025-2026 fiscal year budgets.

Council convened in a workshop session Wednesday, gathering in the council chambers of the Weirton Municipal Building.

“We have to get the budget completed, hopefully, by the end of February or early March,” explained Finance Director Diana Smoljanovich, who added the city faces a March 28 deadline to have the budget submitted to the State of West Virginia.

Smaljanovich is projecting an operational revenue for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1, of $22,977,524, with a beginning fund balance carried over from the current fiscal year of $6,500,000, for a total budget of $29,477, 524.

The current budget is anticipated to finish the year at a total of $31,919,789, which had included an $8.5 million carryover from the 2023-24 fiscal year.

During Wednesday’s workshop, council reviewed requests from several departments, including the city’s police and fire departments, the mayor’s office and city manager’s office, city council funds, public works, planning and development and inspections.

The Weirton Police Department is projecting a budget of $6,270,402, which will include funds for up to 41 police officers, with Chief Charlie Kush noting two officers are expected to retire in the coming months. There also are plans to purchase five new cruisers.

It was noted the city previously used approximately $1 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding to purchase a series of new police cruisers, but Kush said these new vehicles would replace five older cruisers.

“We bought 15. The vehicles we had before them now have 85,000 to 90,000 miles,” Kush said.

The Weirton Fire Department is anticipated to have a $4,367,809 budget, with funding for 28 personnel.

Fire Chief Kevin Himmelrick noted there is a request to purchase a used pumper, explaining the truck stationed on Marland Heights will have to be put out of service soon.

“We can’t afford to buy a new truck,” Himmelrick said, adding the city is still waiting on delivery of a fire truck it ordered during the 2022-23 fiscal year.

Smaljanovich pointed out Himmelrick had requested additional funds to allow the hiring of six new firefighters as part of plans to reopen the County Road Fire Station. Those funds have not been included in the proposed budget.

Beyond those areas, there are plans to allot $92,500 toward economic development; $21,865 toward the mayor; $132,800 for City Council; $665,790 for the city manager’s office; and $701,560 for the finance department.

City Court has been budgeted for $144,545, with the city attorney’s office set to receive $99,935, and $306,810 for community development, which would include funding to begin working on updates to the city’s comprehensive plan.

The inspections department would receive $1,309,305 under current proposals, with $171,150 for information technology, and $751,500 for the City Building. The city’s electricians operations would receive $367,620, with public works receiving $491,954 and $377,159 placed into a contingency with plans to potentially use those funds toward pay raises for certain non-union employees.

The Animal Control Department would receive $80,300, with police administration, which includes office staff and the city’s crossing guards, set to receive $226,425.

Council will meet for a second workshop at 6 p.m. next Wednesday.