Elkins council adopts fiscal year 2027 budgets, approves $125,000 transfer to fire and parks

Elkins City Council voted to adopt the fiscal-year 2027 general fund and coal severance budgets and approved related measures to shore up city operations.

In a roll call vote, the council approved Resolution 19-01, the fiscal year 2027 general fund budget; the clerk recorded eight yes votes and the motion carried. Councilors also approved Resolution 19-02 (coal severance budget) on a unanimous roll call and Resolution 19-03, establishing the city's contribution to the PEIA employee health plan for fiscal 2027.

Why it matters: The general fund budget sets operating levels for city services and staff compensation; councilors questioned staffing details, benefit costs and the allocation of an IT position that will split time between city and water operations.

City Treasurer Tracy told the council that a compliance contractor working on unlicensed business and B&O tax collection has identified $500,971.88 in recoverable revenues through February 2026. "Through February 2026, they have found $500,971.88 in license and BNO tax revenues," Tracy said, describing the contract's revenue-sharing terms and the city’s expected future receipts.

Council members discussed staffing and program funding during budget debate. A councilor asked whether the mayor’s budgeted $61,000 in salaries represented a new full-time position; council and staff clarified that the amount covers a 20-hour-per-week IT position and that overtime allocations will be managed between departments. Councilors also pressed for clarity on how the city would handle the court clerk position, which the city plans to absorb into the general fund: staff said that the clerk duties would be shared among existing employees and that state training is available for those duties.

Separately, the council approved Resolution 18-99 to transfer $125,000 from the financial stabilization fund — $100,000 to the fire fund and $25,000 to parks and recreation — citing rising costs and flat fire-fee revenue since 2015. City staff noted the alternative of raising fire fees to create a sustainable revenue stream if transfers continue to be needed.

The council also approved routine vendor payments and reappointed the city attorney to a one-year term beginning April 1.

What’s next: The council approved the budgets and related resolutions; the city treasurer expects the draft audit to be available at the April 9 meeting and will report on any revenue impacts from contract and bank-rate changes over the coming year.