Wheeling council adopts 2025–26 levy estimate and approves budget amendments

WHEELING, W.Va. — The Wheeling City Council adopted the municipal levy estimate required by the West Virginia State Auditor and approved a package of budget amendments and related resolutions during its June 3 meeting.

The two-readings levy ordinance — the form the state auditor prescribes for the annual appropriation — passed after council voted to give it two readings and then to adopt the ordinance. Council also approved two resolutions revising the approved budget for FY2024–25 and amendments to the FY2025–26 general fund budget.

The levy estimate and amendments put the city’s fiscal year appropriation on record with the state auditor ahead of the June 13 submission deadline, City Manager Heron told council. The measure follows changes recommended by the finance committee earlier in the meeting.

Council approved the measures by voice or roll call votes; the meeting record shows the motions carried and were recorded as approved. No roll-call tallies were read into the public record during the adoption remarks.

The council also approved a “sweep” resolution relating to automatic bond payments to the municipal bond resolution and a supplemental resolution authorizing the terms and sale of combined waterworks and sewage system revenue bonds (Series 2025A) to the West Virginia Water Development Authority, which covers loan terms, maturity dates, and the designation of a paying agent and registrar.

The meeting record does not contain extended debate on the levy or the budget amendments; council members moved and seconded the measures and voted to approve them. Mayor Denny McGruder presided over the vote.

Looking ahead, the city will file the adopted levy estimate with the State Auditor before the statutory deadline, and bond documents tied to the water and sewer revenue bond will proceed as authorized by the council.