Paving added to 2008-09 Huntington budget

HUNTINGTON -- Huntington City Council appears poised to approve a budget for 2008-2009 that includes funding for street paving.

Mayor David Felinton did not allocate any money for street paving in the budget proposal he distributed to council members last month. But a new version that council members approved Friday includes $430,000 for street resurfacing.

The council is expected to give its final approval of the budget on Friday, March 21. The new budget year begins July 1.

"I think we have a budget that doesn't have any bells or whistles, but we're still able to add personnel in the police department, pave streets and buy some equipment that is desperately needed," Councilman Jim Insco said.

The money designated in next year's budget for street resurfacing would be enough to pave about 2.4 miles, Insco said. It costs $178,000 to pave one mile, according to the city's Public Works Department.

In addition to the general fund allocation, federal Community Development Block Grant Program funds will provide $308,000 for paving next year, Insco said.

Of that, $208,000 will be used on 3rd and 4th avenues in downtown Huntington, while the remaining $100,000 will be used in low-income areas of the city, as required by federal regulations.

It has not been determined what streets would be paved with the money from the general fund.

Because of budget constraints, the city hasn't paved any streets since 2004. Huntington voters defeated an excess levy in 2006 that would have provided $3 million for paving.

Felinton's administration and council members started Friday's meeting facing a $1 million deficit in next year's budget. More than $200,000 of that came from an estimated deficit in this year's budget, which ends June 30. Administration and Finance Director Brandi Jones said this year's projected deficit should be resolved now that Felinton has ordered a spending freeze on all city departments.

"Historically, when that's occurred, the budget balances out," she said. "The employees are pretty serious about it. I got a call (Thursday) from an employee who wanted to know if it was OK to purchase a phone message pad."

To make up for the rest of the deficit in next year's budget, Finance Director Bob Wilhelm proposed to suspend the city's $341,000 contribution next year to a supplemental health insurance fund for police and fire retirees. The fund supplements retirees' monthly insurance premiums.

Wilhelm noted there is enough money in the fund now to continue the same level of assistance for several years.

"All we would be doing is skipping our contribution for next year," he said.

Wilhelm also proposed to reduce the police department's overtime budget by $100,000, cut two new positions totaling about $100,000 in engineering and remove several vehicle purchases from other departments.

Funding for six new police officers, six police cruisers and a street sweeper is still in the budget proposal. It also provides partial funding for a new code enforcement officer. The CDBG program budget would pay for the rest of the position's salary.

Mayor David Felinton said he is content with the changes.

"It's not the way I presented it, and it's not the ideal budget, but it's one I can live with," he said. "I'm excited that paving was added as well."

Chris Harris/The Herald-Dispatch

Mayor David Felinton gave his State of the City address Feb. 15 at City Hall. He also presented his proposed budget for fiscal year 2008-2009 to City Council. The council is now poised to pass a budget that includes some funding for street paving.