BUCKHANNON — The City of Buckhannon recently approved a $5.1 million budget that includes almost a million in revenue it projects it will receive from the municipal sales tax as well as $2 raises per hour for Buckhannon police officers.

The actual budget for fiscal year 2020-2021 which passed at the most recent city council meeting is $5,164,466.

Director of finance and administration Amby Jenkins summarized the highlights of the budget at the council meeting following several budget working sessions.

“This is the first year that we will have sales tax as part of our tool to help go towards needed expenses,” she said. “We lowered the B &O tax slightly due to the reduction that was required for implemented the sales tax. We had to lower hotel/motel as it has been decreasing lately.”

The budget also does not factor in a Public Safety Complex fee which was sunset as of April 1.

“The Public Safety Complex fee is paid off,” she said. “Part of the Gateway West grant will flow into the 2020-2021 budget.”

Finally, the Police Prevention Resource Officer grant funding is eliminated.

Under expenditures, the Buckhannon Police Department will be able to provide $2 per hour raises to officers, a request that was made to make the department more competitive in recruiting and retaining officers.

BPD Chief Matt Gregory said, “On average we were about a $1 behind what the sheriff’s department paid, and in the region, about $2 to $2.50 an hour behind those other agencies.”

During his budget presentation, Gregory told council members that a newly hired deputy with the Upshur County Sheriff’s Department made $18.73 an hour and a BPD patrolman with seven years experience made $18.72 an hour.

The BPD budget also includes $34,500 to begin a K-9 unit — $28,000 of which are capital expenditures including the purchase and training of the K-9 and the equipment necessary. Sgt. William Courtney will be the K-9 handler. The department will also purchase new body cameras and add in-car cameras to it’s cruisers.

Gregory said the BPD had not had in-car cameras at one time with VHS tapes and then added a couple digital units approximately 13-14 years ago but had not had them for years.

The new cameras will be compatible with each other. Other BPD expenditures include taser replacement and the replacement of three cruisers with trading in the cruisers for new models.

The Buckhannon Fire Department asked for funding for medical equipment, turnout gear, reporting software, thermal imaging drone, lockers, LED lights in building and a new fire truck. The fire truck is about $500,000 and will be financed.

Jenkins said, “We have some funds to go toward this from sale of an old truck and the BVFD will contribute toward the purchase as well.”

The Street department asked for two additional full-time employees, a concrete truck, a loader and a side-by-side. The concrete truck will be financed about $150,000.

Projects in the budget include sidewalks, lighting and paving of North Kanawha Street from Main Street to the train depot, paving South Kanawha from Main to Wendy’s and a few others for about $135,000.

Director of Public Works will present the proposed projects at a future council meeting for further review, according to Jenkins.

Stockert Youth and Community Center asked for a full-time person, software to track programs and participation and repairs to doors. The Sanitary Department’s storm water projects were funded with $150,000 and another $50,000 will be added in 2021 when some of those projects begin.

The budget also includes $30,000 for the Upshur County Development Authority, $5,000 for the Upshur-Buckhannon Health Department, $10,000 for Country Roads Transit, $16,000 to be divided among Festival Fridays, Strawberry Festival and fireworks celebration, $10,000 for the façade program and $35,000 towards housing enforcement to help with the clean-up of distressed properties.

Councilman C.J. Rylands moved to approve the budget which was seconded by Albaugh and passed unanimously.