HUNTINGTON, W.Va. –Huntington City Council members voted Monday night to pass an $87 million budget for fiscal year 2027.
Huntington Mayor Patrick Farrell gave the budget presentation Saturday during the council meeting. The fiscal year 2027 budget stands at $87,454,313, whereas the current budget is $78,045,814.
Farrell said the budget is about the same as last year’s.
“It balances revenues and expenses as we’re required to do,” he told council members. “There is no new taxes, no new fees, most of the year-to-year increases come from grant-funded money that’s passing through from the state, the feds, to the water quality board.”
Key highlights from the budget include continued flood mitigation, fire station improvements, wastewater treatment plant upgrades, economic growth and housing initiatives.
Farrell said the budget shows taxpayer dollars can be used to make the city safer and cleaner.
“The goal of government is to help people succeed to live the lives they want to live, and all of these dollars, there not my dollars, there not your dollars, they’re taxpayers dollars, and those things should go to the things that make people’s lives better, because I think we all want a safe, healthy, and a welcoming community that folks can call home,” he said.
Committee member Jason Arthur, who also serves as chairman of the finance committee, said budgets are all about priorities and he believes this budget addresses all of the city’s priorities.
“This one focuses on what matters most, protecting our citizens, supporting police and fire, addressing infrastructure needs like flooding and streets, we reviewed every line, asked the tough questions, made sure taxpayers dollars are being used responsibly,” Arthur said.
The budget passed 10-1.
Council member Ally Layman cast the sole “no” vote.
“There are a lot of folks that did not come to speak and it’s because they feel like their voices do not matter, that folks up here will not listen to our constituents and they already have their minds made up, and for that reason I am voting no,” Layman said.
She did make a successful amendment that would allocate $11,000, $1,000 for each council member, to use as microgrants for specific initiatives in their districts.