MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - At it's March 22 regular meeting, Morgantown City Council approved its Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Budget. The General Fund and Capital budget totals $39.5 million, up 1% from the proposed Fiscal Year 2021-2022 budget. The Fiscal Year 2023 budget year begins on July 1, 2022.
The budget follows council’s strategic goals in the areas of attractive amenities, cooperative relationships, excellent city services, arts and culture, transportation and infrastructure, fiscal stability, vibrant downtown, strong neighborhoods, welcoming and inclusive community and emergency planning. Improvements to the budget include creating some full-time positions that were never posted due to uncertainty in revenue. Those positions are:
- Human Resources Assistant in the Human Resources Department
- Sign Specialist in the Engineering and Public Works Department
- Special Projects Coordinator in the City Manager’s Office
- Museum Manager in the Arts & Cultural Development Department
- Arts & Culture Facilities Technician in the Arts & Cultural Development Department
- 2 Airport Laborers at the Morgantown Municipal Airport
The budget also includes positions which will be funded through federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds. Those positions include a Marketing Coordinator, Lead City Ambassador, five part-time City Ambassadors, and a Street Outreach Coordinator. These positions add approximately $269,000 to the General Fund FY23 budget but will be reimbursed by the ARP fund.
Other highlights of the budget include $637,560 to the General Fund contingency to help the city in the event of an emergency. Also included is $1.8 million for right-of-way improvements such as street paving and ADA improvements for sidewalks. Funding for the right of way improvements is generated from the Municipal Service Fee.
Included in this budget is $584,600 to 12 different non-profit agencies. Public service agencies including the Board of Parks and Recreation, Morgantown Public Library, Monongalia Morgantown Metropolitan Planning Organization and Mountain Line Transit Authority, receive funding in the amount of $3,029,000. Providing financial assistance to these vital community organizations helps to improve the community’s health, well-being, quality of life and safety through our sustained and collaborative relationships.