Fairmont (West Virginia) city planer to present $22.6M budget for FY26

The $22,598,968 budget is nearly $500,000 lower than the revised Fiscal Year 2025, Blosser said.

The proposed budget is actually higher than the original $21.9 FY25 budget, due to figures that come later in the year, Blosser said.

The revised FY25 budget includes ad valorem taxes and the budget carryover, neither of which are able to be included with an official dollar amount until later in the calendar year.

"My budget message to city council was to note to them that, at the end of the day, we're not seeing dips in our actual revenue stream," Blosser said.

The city is projected to receive increased revenue from collecting excise tax on utilities, property tax and business and occupation tax, with more slight increases projected from building permits, video lottery, sales tax and charges for services, Blosser said.

He expects insurance costs through West Virginia Public Employees Insurance Agency to increase as well, Blosser said.

"Two big things from a budget standpoint on health insurance is how we can work to keep costs on a manageable footing and how we can make sure we have the strongest benefit package so we're able to recruit and retain personnel," Blosser said. "We need to study our health, dental and vision care coverage to see if there are changes we have to make to meet both of those goals."

There are also more minor expenditures to meet city council's strategic plan. The city feels "very comfortable" with the number of things that have been included, including more money set aside for municipal parks, Blosser said. 

Also in the proposed budget is $200,000 for continued demolitions in the city.

Council will discuss the general fund budget, as well as the coal severance and five-year capital plan budgets, during a 4 p.m. work session Wednesday.