Parkersburg Finance Director Eric Giles (right) speaks about proposed budget amendments during a Parkersburg City Council Finance Committee meeting Tuesday at City Hall with Mayor Tom Joyce in attendance. Discuss. (Photo courtesy of Evan Bevins)
PARKERSBURG — The Parkersburg City Council Finance Committee on Tuesday approved additional tax revenue for the next phase of development of the planned activity and recreation facilities at City Park, Discovery World on Market and other areas. A resolution to allocate was sent to the entire Congress.
The amendments, totaling $2.4 million, will be on the agenda at the Feb. 13 City Council meeting.
The largest portion of the revised revenue estimate is business and occupation tax revenue of $1,358,647, bringing the total projected total for B&O to more than $9.2 million.
“This is clearly due to contract revenue growth and inflation.” Finance Director Eric Giles told Finance Committee members during Tuesday's meeting at City Hall.
Adjustment is an effort “We will budget B&O appropriately for today’s economic climate.” He added that the revised forecasts will be considered when formulating the 2024-2025 budget.
Parkersburg City Councilmember Sharon Kuhl (left) asks a question during Tuesday's Finance Committee meeting at City Hall as Councilman Chris Rexrode watches. (Photo courtesy of Evan Bevins)
If approved by the full Legislature, the amendment would send $650,000 to the Parks and Recreation Capital Projects Fund. “Where we are accumulating resources for activity and recreation centers” City Park, Giles said. The additional funding will set aside a total of $4,695,496 for an estimated $13 million facility to be constructed on the existing pavilion site.
The commission went into a closed executive session to discuss the possibility of acquiring the property, which includes $165,000 as a line item in the stormwater budget. No decision has been made and the location of the property has not been disclosed.
The amendment includes $150,000 to add storm drain lining, $200,000 to shore up an unallocated balance in the Sanitation Fund, $150,000 for lighting along the recently completed Parkersburg-Ohio River Trail, and $150,000 to add lining to storm drains, $150,000 to shore up unallocated balances in the Sanitation Fund, and $150,000 for lighting along the recently completed Parkersburg-Ohio River Trail. It includes $150,000 in a demolition fund to address the property and $125,000 toward the building. Engineering Department for emergency demolition costs.
$75,000 has been earmarked to contribute to Phase 2 of the development of Discovery World on Market's nonprofit children's museum.
Mayor Tom Joyce said the facility, which opens in spring 2023, will host more than 50,000 visitors from 29 states, and $289,000 has already been committed to the effort, which includes renovating the building's fourth-floor theater. said.
He said additional funding is being considered, including possible Congressional-directed spending from Sen. Joe Manchin's office.
“I think they are valued partners and I just think that if we can help them, we should do it.” Joyce said.
If the police department's budget is amended, $225,000 would be moved from the patrol officer pay line item (money that was not or will not be spent due to vacancies) to overtime.
The resolution, as presented, was passed by Congress by a 5-0 vote.
