At Monday night’s meeting, Bridgeport City Council unanimously approved a $14.6 million budget for the upcoming fiscal year to begin July 1. Council has been reviewing the proposed budget document over recent weeks.

 

Bridgeport Finance Director Monica Musgrave said Monday evening that the only change in the document from the last budget session was the addition of one police sergeant position.  A total of $3,273,851 is budgeted for the police department for 2017-2018, followed by $2,589,795 in streets and highways and $2,576,259 to Bridgeport Fire Department. Other departments to which more than $1 million is budgeted are Parks and Recreation and the Greater Bridgeport Convention and Visitors Bureau.

 

Topping the city's revenues is a projected $5,750,000 in business and occupation tax. Other substantial revenues include $3,934,799 in levy revenue and an estimated $1,100,000 in hotel-motel tax.

 

The budget also reflects a two percent cost of living and one percent step increase for city employees across the board.

 

In the excused absence of City Recorder Hank Murray, Council temporarily appointed Council member Diana Marra as recorder. Marra signed off on the budget document which will be submitted to the State of West Virginia Tuesday morning, Musgrave said.

 

Council also unanimously approved the Coal Severance Tax Fund Budget for the 2017-2018 fiscal year. Musgrave pointed out that the budget amount decreased from the 2016-2017 fiscal year.

 

“It went from $20,000 to $18,000 based on moneys we’re receiving in from the state,” she said. “Those funds are used to pay for city attorney fees.”

 

Also coming before Council Monday were a couple of budget revisions. Capital Reserve Fund Budget Revision No. 5 appropriated $100,000 in hotel-motel tax to be used to match a transportation enhancement grant.

 

Earlier in the meeting, Council passed a resolution for the acceptance of that grant.

 

“We’ve worked with the Department of Highways with this grant for a number of years now to extend the sidewalk and trail from Main Street out Virginia Avenue to the (Hinkle and Deegan) lakes,” said City Manager Kim Haws. “We finally were awarded this grant and adoption of a resolution is one of the requirements to secure the grant dollars.”

Mayor Bob Greer said similar transportation enhancement grants – also known as T21 grants – have been utilized in the revitalization of Main Street from Oliverio’s Ristorante to the Benedum Civic Center.

 

In total, the city is providing $140,000, which when combined with the grant dollars, will total more than $700,000.

 

The final budget revision voted upon and passed by Council Monday evening concerned reimbursement from FEMA in the amount of $7,051 for salary and training education of Homeland Security/Emergency Services Director Laura Pysz for time spent in July of 2016 for flood relief work in Greenbrier County.

 

That General Fund Budget No. 6 had originally included appropriation of $20,000 to Bridgeport Arts Council to be used toward the Sound Waves and IPAs event, June 24, 2017 at Bridgeport City Park. A second annual event, it will feature specialty craft beer from breweries across the world, live music, food and artisan vendors. Mayor Greer said the $20,000 was to be used to secure entertainers for the event. After concerns voiced by Councilors Lowell “LJ” Maxey and Dustin Vincent, Marra suggested that the matter be postponed until more details about the event - including anticipated sponsors and projected proceeds – could be gathered and shared with members of Council.

 

Council also voted to authorize Greer to enter into an agreement with the U.S. Division of Justice & Community Services to receive and administer grant funds for a Justice Assistance Grant. Bridgeport Police Chief John Walker said the grants had been received for a number of years.

 

“One is dealing with our prevention resource officer (PRO) who serves at Bridgeport High School, as well as Simpson and Johnson elementary schools and Bridgeport Middle School. That grant is for $20,000 and there’s no match for that,” Walker said. “The other is for a drug task force officer - $50,000 to be divided between Bridgeport and Clarksburg.”

 

Pastor Mike Hopkins of Simpson Creek Baptist Church (pictured right and on cover) opened Monday night's meeting with prayer. 

 

Read coverage HERE of the public comment portion of the March 27, 2017 meeting during which Jeff James spoke in favor of Bridgeport funding a position to the DEA Tactical Diversion Squad in Clarksburg.