WILLIAMSON, W.Va. — The Williamson City Council voted Monday to lay off numerous employees due to a smaller budget.
Two police officers, a firefighter, a janitor and some part-time employees were cut as the council approved of the next fiscal year’s budget.
The upcoming budget is $2 million, a decline from the current year’s $2.3 million plan.
According to Mayor Robert Carlton, the reduction will save the city an estimated $150,000 in payroll and health insurance costs.
Carlton told WSAZ-TV the downturn in the coal industry is why the city is struggling financially.
The city’s police department will be reduced to six officers and a police chief. Carlton said the West Virginia State Police and Mingo County Sheriff’s Department will provide assistance as needed.
The fire department is staffed by a fire chief, three lieutenants and volunteers paid on a per-call basis. One trainee was laid off in the cut.
Carlton also said the city is analyzing its relationship with Veoila, a management group that hires independent contractors for city maintenance. The service costs $57,000. The city has a $330,000 debt to the company.
Carlton said the city is looking at renegotiating the debt payment and considering making those contractors city employees when the contract with Veoila ends in March 2018.