[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6289764,"mediaKeyId","2532132-3a3658eb20190e1e5fd6ad2bf7e4d29b","parentId",2532132,"title","Mayor narrows discretionary contributions, formalizes request form; animal shelter funding and library contract under review","audioSeconds",677,"startMs",7225000,"endMs",7902000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2532132-3a3658eb20190e1e5fd6ad2bf7e4d29b&start=7225&end=7902","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2532132-3a3658eb20190e1e5fd6ad2bf7e4d29b/thumbnail_7225000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6289764/Huntington/Cabell-County/West-Virginia/Mayor-narrows-discretionary-contributions-formalizes-request-form-animal-shelter-funding-and-library-contract-under-review","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6289764-c44f4a6d7436ceaad1564ba8dd883620/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183826&Signature=D85uFTqYiD1Du8eW1NBF8jBXjf~pWAECx9bd4G8QFRidEnNAjzghaEY7yX0RMX-CTPeUGlJPDWuz31ClLvbgAgV8gTv0t~ZHsKl7JtpkjDqvowq0Fsf3A66o09SM-I83g9jJecNf0SPvoQ0pVC1HKrAhNj64CbfnQAiqvDjYuMqXEwds30JmNWThQph~FD8GZBMFCXQ-tUFnMKZma8roDfJRJr8RMmguSFL-xHOK0MEEiEUzlFEMkNvoyaLSS-6dpiGnQ6tRLOBFUoIbMeVCSr4hLC8twu9BdvlVX113-yWa-N6j6tHlTsdnBeEEblgNgf3EsDG4mBEgkQDbF61Uog__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Hunlington","date","2025-03-01T00:00:00Z","article","Mayor Farrell told council the city will reduce the discretionary contributions category and make requests for funding more transparent by requiring and publishing a standardized contribution request form. He said the total contributions line is lower than in years that received one‑time federal funds and that the administration will honor contractual obligations before discretionary awards.

Park and Harris Riverfront Park: Farrell described a contract with the Park Board related to Harris Riverfront Park. He said the contract language referencing $2.15 (interpreted in the discussion as $215,000 over two years) needs clarification and that staff and the park board are working to reconcile contract language and billing. The mayor said the city will honor contractual obligations and work with the park board to determine proper billing and budgeting.

Animal shelter: The mayor recounted a long‑standing intergovernmental funding arrangement for the animal shelter involving the city, Cabell County and Wayne County that dates to 1979. He said the city historically has varied its annual contribution but that the FY2026 proposal includes $200,000 as the city portion of support, and that the shelter's board would set specific operating numbers at its meetings. Council members and the shelter’s board member (Miss Cross) in the room discussed that counties have not always matched the city's contributions and that the board would seek operating numbers to present to the three‑party board.

Library information‑and‑referral contract: Council members noted that a prior council approval included a contract to fund the library's information and referral service and asked why the funding had not yet been transferred. The mayor said the city manages quarterly cash flow and that staff were reviewing the timing and contractual obligation; he said he hoped the payment could be made by the end of the fiscal year.

Microgrants and neighborhood funding: The mayor said small microgrants previously administered directly by council are removed from this budget and that organizations previously receiving such grants should file the standardized contribution request form for consideration as part of the discretionary process.

Ending: The administration emphasized contractual priorities and a transparent, consolidated process for discretionary requests while council members urged timely payment where council has already approved contracts and expressed concern about the loss of small neighborhood grants.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Hunlington Council Budget Session 3/1/25","oneSentenceSummary","The mayor proposed a smaller contributions budget, said the administration has reissued a standardized contribution request form for transparency, and discussed the animal shelter's multi‑jurisdiction funding arrangement and the library information‑and‑referral contract that council approved but that had not yet been paid.","taxTitle","Huntington, Cabell County, West Virginia","taxId",2634,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6289768,"City shifts legal pay lines: Scott Damron moved to contracted role; administration budgets more outside counsel and assistant attorneys",398,2918000,3316000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2532132-3a3658eb20190e1e5fd6ad2bf7e4d29b&start=2918&end=3316","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2532132-3a3658eb20190e1e5fd6ad2bf7e4d29b/thumbnail_2918000.jpg","/articles/6289768/Huntington/Cabell-County/West-Virginia/City-shifts-legal-pay-lines-Scott-Damron-moved-to-contracted-role-administration-budgets-more-outside-counsel-and-assistant-attorneys","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6289768-9c7023426d32aab88839dda109f0a4c0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183826&Signature=IMG~lpggOghJYaTJ-0k9F8inW~Tiz-vtOM-CU78viu51sbrXC5ZlD0VCtB3bMRTCP9V1P-Oq-~8unq5Zngr8VVMihbNEt62jlY2ic2-afufc4glg~0dgAzTkXTDM0c3Te4xw~gxeJnNpBFSHLre3eGFW9hHUryUW5kdeTQIH5aG1YeDsIebwgvIXMvw4tQ02Yzy1QoIgdGt4bJpniFC7wpkgUXbmxUdmJknukkIB4hHgKWd14druOE3GVgc8kw8CEIFoGv0LRf3cHGMCFBTHOeunUV0UddEwlRXJjpGnArDX0St8S9OiEQlLmccRdzhJ4dfZJfpTZDBv0IKBO0aQgQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mayor Farrell told council the city attorney previously employed as staff has moved to a contracted acting city attorney arrangement and that the FY2026 budget reflects that change by shifting payroll savings into the professional services line. The mayor said the administration also plans to add assistant city attorney capacity and budget more for outside legal counsel.

Detail and rationale: Farrell said the total legal services budget is increasing by approximately $141,000 to reflect anticipated workload, including collections, vacant‑building enforcement and other litigation the mayor expects may arise as the city pursues unpaid taxes and compliance actions. He said the contracted professional services line now funds the acting city attorney and that the budget also adds funds for outside counsel and a second assistant to handle collection and enforcement work.

Council members asked whether contracting out legal work versus hiring an in‑house attorney would be more or less costly overall. The mayor said if the city hires a full‑time employee he would move funds from contracted services back to payroll with a budget revision, and he said part of the professional services increase is to fund “specialty” municipal practice expertise that the in‑house team might not have.

The mayor said the move to contracted services included consideration of the 120‑day limit for an acting appointment and that a permanent appointment or contracting decision will be finalized within the statutory and administrative timeframes.

Ending: The revised legal funding lines reflect the administration’s expectation of greater collections and litigation work and are intended to ensure the city has capacity and outside expertise available when needed.","Mayor Farrell said long‑time city attorney Scott Damron is now serving as acting city attorney under a contracted services line; the FY2026 proposal moves some salary lines to professional services and budgets additional assistant city attorneys and outside counsel amid anticipated increased enforcement and litigation.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6289774,"Council hears paving program update and a decades‑old landfill liability estimated at $20–$30 million",276,5543000,5819000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2532132-3a3658eb20190e1e5fd6ad2bf7e4d29b&start=5543&end=5819","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2532132-3a3658eb20190e1e5fd6ad2bf7e4d29b/thumbnail_5543000.jpg","/articles/6289774/Huntington/Cabell-County/West-Virginia/Council-hears-paving-program-update-and-a-decadesold-landfill-liability-estimated-at-2030-million","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6289774-c636dd9e9394e8f78eb9ea4cc51ec044/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183826&Signature=YemqjPSIo5n0dyVGBMW9eD4KWys~4nSKvwfh5JTyEUSOx0a-x69iqrDYnaBhx-tHOMx-uBRDUfp7qWGsJ9U~jLb~a6wdpaM6d8vR5DD-2exx1ua3t1nL8MtMAslXAGdHmaiNPDyECIpL1TkFOYfj0CnTmut0BPQpsbV3Y7neS2PNjAmhvGqXwffARQ1L7L95PU~fKm~syLx6BTnvz7D73K62v6DAmgwxbgP4HJ6bG2MFRnLL-QPN9tQy0vm5pV74XSKk9ehbGhhI5u7PCjKQZs04laAKDfB-ANdQoCh3ukxUJT5yumUlLPIsA9ShH010Gvg3QRReaZka2pFM0V-8tg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Public works, street paving, sidewalk programs and a long‑running landfill closure obligation were discussed at length during the Saturday budget review.

Paving and sidewalks: The mayor said the administration seeks to maintain street and sidewalk work but noted the accounting for the paving program can appear \"lumpy\" from year to year because of invoicing delays and the way work is contracted through the state. Farrell said the city budgeted larger paving totals in some previous years (for example, $3,450,000 in the current year) but actuals through the mid‑year were lower (the mayor cited about $705,000 spent to date), and late invoices from state contractors can shift spending between fiscal years. The administration told council it used a six‑year average to set a realistic expectation for street work going forward (the mayor cited an average roughly in the $2.35 million range). The mayor also urged residents to report potholes and sidewalk issues through the city's 3‑1‑1 app so the data can feed repair priorities.

Sidewalk and brick streets: Council members urged continued support for sidewalk repair programs (city labor with homeowner materials), and community advocates asked that the city consider the costs and long‑term benefits of repairing or preserving historic brick streets.

Landfill closure liability: The mayor said the city has known for many years that the Deas Hollow and Guyandotte landfill sites were never properly closed. He described state Department of Environmental Protection enforcement and said the city has taken some steps but the closure work has not been completed. Farrell told council, \"In today's dollars I anticipate it between somewhere between $20 and $30,000,000 will be required to close the landfill.\" He said the administration is exploring financing options and pursuing state legislative help and legal counsel to address the liability.

Contracting challenges and timing: Farrell said procurement relationships with the state Department of Highways have required renewed attention and that the administration must rebuild or reestablish agreements to secure paving capacity and timely invoicing.

Ending: The mayor framed road and sidewalk work as a public‑safety and infrastructure priority and said the city will continue to pursue grants, contractual capacity and targeted capital to address backlog needs while exploring options to finance the landfill closure.","Mayor Farrell told council the city intends to maintain its paving and sidewalk programs but described contracting and invoicing timing challenges; he also said the Deas Hollow/Guyandotte landfill has not been properly closed and estimated closure costs between $20 million and $30 million.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6289780,"Council hears police budget flat at $16.1M; mayor adds $250,000 jail‑bill contingency to avoid enforcement gaps",183,3609000,3792000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2532132-3a3658eb20190e1e5fd6ad2bf7e4d29b&start=3609&end=3792","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2532132-3a3658eb20190e1e5fd6ad2bf7e4d29b/thumbnail_3609000.jpg","/articles/6289780/Huntington/Cabell-County/West-Virginia/Council-hears-police-budget-flat-at-161M-mayor-adds-250000-jailbill-contingency-to-avoid-enforcement-gaps","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6289780-e399dbfd77ca48972bb5b86026cb228d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183826&Signature=bcL7M4dfRUfZgG-ZDXG8os~wHfBtijatleUKYhbft05wuN~M2OZYfam26~ZT88gUg9cWgxynGvd9-fEGzXyQ0nRVjsaM78ab5l-seV2k9zEUV1TxTUFPrIPXQPDuZMPu~3rMEz1QLMtG9EERiczhRYwMJiyCmFO4gjX6HSP2F6LNts3vWzsgJpLNaeXJbaiAW-gj4weRAuLuyAyLA5kLjPQwyyOEgnFZJAFwNiALLkdfplqP9Z6xqdezLam29Lk-JlcqyTobE0WqvqkfPH6RwFfyFUsi0i4GXjP0bkJfn3LjHHEHo4defY-FBi5O6OFVRShLkr1kdzMcuMLP2Thalw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mayor Farrell told the council the police budget is essentially flat for FY2026 and that the administration is budgeting about $16.1 million for police operations. He said the administration does not intend to cut police or fire funding and that the mayor's goal is to be transparent and accurate about what police will actually spend.

The mayor said the FY2026 proposal reflects that the city is still authorized for 108 sworn positions but is not funding all of them; he cited a reduction of roughly $363,000 that reflects the fact some positions remain unfunded. Farrell told the council he wants the police department to have agency to spend its authorized allocation and that the administration will avoid year‑end sweeps of unused personnel funding.

Jail bill contingency: Farrell said he included an extra $250,000 in the budget for the municipal jail bill so that concerns about paying county incarceration charges are not used as a reason not to arrest or otherwise enforce city ordinances. “I included an extra $250,000 in the jail bill so that when we talk to the sheriffs, we talk to the policemen, we talk to whoever, the jail bill isn't in consideration,” the mayor said, adding, “I hope we spend none of it.” He told council the jail bill is recorded under contracted services (line 230‑0101) and said the figure is intended only to remove the jail cost as an excuse for failing to enforce the law.

Vehicles and capital: Council members asked about capital‑outlay lines for vehicles. The mayor acknowledged a reduction in the budgeted capital outlay for vehicles in the police line and said vehicles will be acquired when funding and procurement allow; he said public safety remains a top priority and that the administration will return with budget revisions if needs change.

Union and pension costs: Farrell noted an increase in state‑mandated pension contributions tied to workforce demographics and said the city is budgeting accordingly.

Council members pushed back about removing municipal charges that had previously been used to reduce jail bills, and said reductions in community microgrant programs may be difficult for neighborhood groups. Farrell said the budget is a plan and that the council may revisit allocations in work sessions and revisions.

Ending: The administration left policing funding at a level the mayor called sufficient for public safety while adding a targeted contingency to cover incarceration expenses that could otherwise discourage enforcement.

","Mayor Farrell presented a largely flat police budget and said the administration added $250,000 to the jail bill line to remove cost concerns as a reason not to enforce city ordinances. Council members pressed for details about vehicle funding, staffing levels and the effect of previously removed municipal charges on jail costs.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6289784,"Mayor Farrell presents flat $78 million general‑fund budget, urges transparency and fiscal resiliency",11116,62000,11178000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2532132-3a3658eb20190e1e5fd6ad2bf7e4d29b&start=62&end=11178","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2532132-3a3658eb20190e1e5fd6ad2bf7e4d29b/thumbnail_62000.jpg","/articles/6289784/Huntington/Cabell-County/West-Virginia/Mayor-Farrell-presents-flat-78-million-generalfund-budget-urges-transparency-and-fiscal-resiliency","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6289784-25dd920948933a86a67886d40542b4e2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183826&Signature=PKz8rP7wUODo5vTogVdrHQWFWi8KfzSLtTnmbJG87bPjawl2WF4-fhAhzkaiEQxqoeSrdE3XH3fMGD~Llr6Uq80SgYMJWqzo3y0xXLnKdeFMP5n7gA0Cepl1TC6Diz~NDvZ~8wSHSyXfz1s39Fdsi2NJswqrgBPVMFkT2zKfNZGPxK~cNRo~Igc3VATPmZlIHprZpRwIUSj1rJtt-NWNJNux3KY8MtLoNOFqx6cy2WObtU4VGF9oY8oju0F2YMy1vKQ-n5d-DMMEj3p0h7Y0XKdrUvURl3puBv9YuX~flkm1-VE2u68L52pN~293hWNOEcc7S~cwF7LWcBYrqNQ3jA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mayor Farrell on Saturday presented his proposed FY2026 general‑fund budget for the city of Huntington, saying the proposal is a $78,000,000 plan that is \"flat\" with the prior year and is now in the hands of the city council for review, public inspection and eventual adoption.

The mayor said the city charter requires the mayor to submit a budget message before February 15 and noted the procedural next steps: publish the budget and summary, allow a two‑week public inspection period, hold a public hearing, conduct budget work sessions and then send the budget to council for consideration.

Why it matters: Farrell framed the budget around six guiding principles — transparency, accuracy, flexibility, focus on priorities (public safety, infrastructure and economic growth), understandability for the public, and a forward‑looking approach to build financial resiliency. He said the administration wants two months of operating cash available and a longer‑term unassigned fund balance target.

The mayor repeatedly described the proposal as conservative and as a plan, not a final spending outcome. He told council members that the administration will submit a revised budget after the fiscal‑year close (the July 31 revision required within 60 days of the start of the fiscal year) to update ending fund balances and reflect actuals.

On reserves and cash: Farrell said the budget shows an estimated unassigned fund balance of $9,000,000 at June 30 under the FY2026 proposal and stated an administration target for two months of operating cash of about $11,000,000 to improve resiliency. Council member Tia Rumbaugh asked for the two‑month figure; the mayor pointed to a chart in the presentation and said the $11,000,000 is an estimate and will vary with actual receipts and spending.

Revenue and forecasting: Farrell told council the $78,000,000 is a revenue‑balanced budget and reviewed several revenue line items the administration expects to vary by assumptions (property taxes, sales and B&O, user fees and interest income). He described the revenue forecasts as conservative, based on historic trends and current economic expectations, and reminded the council that some revenues are influenced by county or state actions. On interest income he said recent years produced higher receipts and the administration budgeted $200,000 for FY2026 because it expects interest rates to decline from the recent higher levels.

Next steps and transparency: The mayor said he wants to make contribution and grant spending more transparent and to publish clearer documentation of how discretionary contributions will be evaluated. He asked council to use the public comment periods and upcoming work sessions to ask specific questions about departmental lines.

Ending: Farrell closed the session by reiterating that the budget is his plan for the general fund and that the council will now exercise its charter duty to review, hold a public hearing and consider the budget for adoption.","Mayor Farrell on Saturday laid out a proposed FY2026 general‑fund budget of $78,000,000, describing it as \"flat\" with the prior year and emphasizing transparency, conservative forecasting and a goal to build unassigned reserves and two months operating cash.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Mayor narrows discretionary contributions, formalizes request form; animal shelter funding and library contract under review

City shifts legal pay lines: Scott Damron moved to contracted role; administration budgets more outside counsel and assistant attorneys

Council hears paving program update and a decades‑old landfill liability estimated at $20–$30 million

Council hears police budget flat at $16.1M; mayor adds $250,000 jail‑bill contingency to avoid enforcement gaps

Mayor Farrell presents flat $78 million general‑fund budget, urges transparency and fiscal resiliency