Wood County Commission hears additional budget requests
Wood County Clerk Joe Gonzales appeared before the Wood County Commission Thursday to make his budget request for the 2025-26 fiscal year. Pay raises for employees has been the main request from officials across many county offices. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)
PARKERSBURG — Pay raises for employees continue to be the primary request coming from a number of officials across many county offices as the Wood County Commission continues its budgeting process. Wood County IT Systems/Network Administrator Chris Whittaker; Wood County Clerk Joe Gonzales; Jodi Smith of the WVU Extension Office and Angela Durham, financial director for the Wood County Day Report Center, all appeared before the commission to make budget requests for the upcoming 2025-26 fiscal year. Whittaker made no additional requests for this year with his budget request matching what he had last year. “I will make this as easy as I can and say I don’t really have any specific requests,” he said. “Basically, we will keep doing what we have been doing which I think has been working out really well for us.” Whittaker said his priority has been working on getting a new phone system for the county implemented. Gonzales said there has not been too many changes in how the County Clerk’s office is funded. “My budget is pretty much the same, the only thing I am asking for is for you to consider a 5% raise for the employees,” Gonzales said. “I know you will work the numbers and if there is money in the budget, you will give the employees a raise.” Commissioner Jimmy Colombo said they are looking at insurance costs and trying to negotiate something that would allow money to be available to fund raises. Officials said their insurance company is asking for a 14% increase. The elections line item remained the same, but Gonzales said many of the poll workers wanted to see if their pay could be bumped up some. People get paid $25 for the training session, $175 to work Election Day and the people who deliver the ballots to the courthouse are paid an extra $10 and poll commissioners get an extra $25. “That is something they always ask for,” Gonzales said. “We are lucky to have them. It is a long day for them. I think they deserve more money.” Commissioner Robert Tebay commended Gonzales and his people on running a smooth election. “It is a team effort,” Gonzales responded. Smith also asked for an increase in salary amounts. “I am asking for what everyone else is asking for,” she said of a five percent increase. The Day Report Center is also looking at a 5% increase. Otherwise, their budget request remains the same as last year. County officials are looking at the possibility of cutting back on some services in some of the satellite offices for the Day Report Center in surrounding counties where they pay rent and staff but do not have big client participation numbers. They want to contact those county’s officials to see if the amount being paid for the services can be increased or if the county can get more participants to justify the expense. Those resources and people could be better used elsewhere if an agreement cannot be reached, commissioners said. In other business, Wood County Resiliency Center Director Sydney Weber gave a report on the center. They have over 40 events booked so far this year and she is expecting to bring in $100,000 on those with the potential to do more in the future. “Since opening, we have seen a huge uptick in bookings,” she said. “I have been doing a lot of tours for future conferences and more. “The response to the building has been really well received. It has been a building process.” Brett Dunlap can be reached at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com