SUMMERSVILLE, W.Va. — Citing a downturn in tax revenue, Nicholas County announced plans to cut 24 full-time positions, including nine from the sheriff’s department, and reduce salaries by 20 percent for other employees.
In a news release Wednesday, Nicholas County Commission president Ken Altizer said the reductions follow a $1.4 million dip in coal severance tax revenues from last year.
According the commission’s office, the county will cut one sheriff’s department process server and eight of the 26 deputies. Other cuts include:
• Two employees from the animal shelter
• Two from maintenance
• Two from the WVU office plus all operation costs
• Two from the County Clerk’s office
• Two from the prosecuting attorney’s office
• Two from the assessor’s office
• Two tax deputies
• One from the Circuit Clerk’s office
The steep pay cut could force remaining employees into difficult decisions, prosecuting attorney James “P.K.” Milam said.
“In all honesty, our employees don’t make a whole lot anyway,” he said. “There’s not going to be a big difference in their pay being cut by 20 percent as opposed to unemployment. It may not be in their best interest to remain working.”
Under the proposed cuts, tax assessor Ernie Dennison said each department could struggle while reorganizing personnel.
“Would you be able to complete the work that needed done? In my case, the completion of land books, which you have to have to assess values in order to determine your tax dollars for future tax year, revenue for the county.”
Dennison’s department is down to eight employees between the appraisal and assessment division after recently cutting two positions.
“It’s bad. I mean, it’s bad,” he said.
The news release said the commissioners were making the cuts with their “most deepest regret”—an announcement some departmental leaders understood given the economic downturn.
“We knew the coal severance money was down, and the tax collections were down and there were going to be cuts made,” Milan said. “We just didn’t know how the county was going to cut them. In their defense, I understand they have to keep every constitutional office open and operating.”
The commission made the budget decisions in a special meeting held Tuesday in Summersville.