Monongalia County approves $1.07 million redistribution after larger-than-expected carryover

Monongalia County commissioners voted Wednesday to approve a revised carryover allocation after final fiscal-year 2025 revenues exceeded projections. County Administrator Reneta McClure told the commission the county closed the year with a larger carryover than budgeted — $12,000,005.72 versus an anticipated $11,500,000 — leaving an additional $1,072,001.51 to redistribute. McClure said the revenue difference reflected higher-than-expected tax collections realized in the final month of the fiscal year. Why it matters: the commission reallocated the additional funds to specific operational and capital needs rather than a single pool, increasing several departmental budgets and bolstering contingency reserves. Key allocations described by McClure included $5,000 for hazardous household waste collection, $111,510 returned to the county clerk for two previously listed vacant positions, a $15,000 ConnectWise subscription for IT, $67,000 for school safety officer expenses at Saint Francis (to be reimbursed), $152,000 to accelerate payoff of fleet leases after switching fleet-management vendors, $82,000 carried for the Alpine (orphan) Road project, and $250,000 for a parks amenity at Mason Dixon Historical Park. The commission also increased contingency balances by approximately $391,641. The commission moved and seconded approval of the revised budgets and voted unanimously in favor. The vote and direction are procedural: the approved motion implements the reallocation McClure described and does not itself create new programs or long-term obligations beyond existing descriptions. Next steps: implementation will proceed through department accounting as directed by administration; McClure noted the county will continue monitoring revenues and expenses as the new fiscal year advances.