Commission ApprovesNew budget for 2023-24

The Braxton County Commission approved their new budget for the coming year last Friday, March 24 at a Special Meeting that convened at 2:00 p.m. The new budget which will take effect on July 1 of this year, reflects the projection that the county will have more money to spend. next 12 months. The new budget reflects an increase of $114,547 over the current year, bringing the total from $6,417,917 to $6,532,464. The coal severance fund is also expected to increase for $34,143 this year to $36,000 next.
The constitutional offices of County Commission, County Clerk, Prosecuting Attorney and Assessor will see moderate increases to their budget with the largest being to that of County Clerk which will increase from $280.485 to $331,985. On the loosing side will be the Circuit Clerk and Sheriff’s Treasury department which are both receiving less money that this year.
The Sheriff’s law enforcement division Emergency Services, Ambulance Authority and Dog Warden’s budget will also increase.
The new general budget and coal severance budget were approved by way of separate motions.
In other action the Commission hired a new County Humane Officer to replace Luke Nettles who recently resigned, A motion by Melvin Gum will lead to the employment of Kimberly Jarrett to fill the position. She will be paid $29,000 per year with full county benefits and serve a 90-day probationary period. Jarrett will assume her new position on April 1.
The Commission agreed to release $10,000 each to the Frametown and Service Volunteer Fire Departments from the American Rescue Plans fund since they had received paper work outlining how the funding would be spent.
Larry Clifton made a motion to approve the budget revisions requested by Sue Rutherford, County Clerk to her current budget.
The Commission authorized their administrative assistant to advertise for an RFQ pertaining to a HUD Grant.
Two purchases orders were approved as presented by way of separate motions. Both will bring new equipment to the County Clerk’s office. The Elections Division will be allowed to purchase a new Dell Latitude 3520 Laptop computer from Compiled Technologies at a cost of $1,450.97. From the same company, the County Clerk received permission to buy an HP Laser Jet Enterprise M611X printer costing $2,932.55.
Being no further action to discuss the meeting adjourned at 2:15 p.m. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Braxton County Commission is set to April 7 beginning at 9:00 a.m.