KYOVA Transportation Fund Increase Could Assist Grant Writing, Storm Water Separation

Evan as Deron Runyon, Huntington Finance Director, at a Wednesday meeting outlined “time sensitive Workman’s Compensation payment issue” and an $80,000 decline in Coal Severance funds which could result in a general fund offset of that amount of Big Sandy Superstore Arena subsidy, city department heads outlined their needs and  abilities  to sustain or deal minimally with personnel shortages.

Still, Runyon pointed out that the city’s current “stabilized”  pension contribution of $10 million will be “subject to changes based on investment (return) from (funds) at local banks.”  Ultimately, retirement health care costs will in his words “became a new pension issue” and that auditors likely will require regular contributions for the estimated $7 million dollars in post-employment benefits for city employees.

Public Safety Department heads expressed concern at holding on to current “pieces of the pie” and Public Works Director David Hagley explained that nearly all proposed service and equipment improvements “all come back to funding.”