The Inter-Mountain photo by Taylor McKinnie Fourth Ward Elkins City Council member Nanci Bross-Fregonara, far left, asks City Treasurer Tracy Judy, second from right, a budget question during the most recent City Council meeting. Fifth Ward Councilman David Parker, second from left, and Operations Manager Mike Kesecker, far right, look on.

ELKINS — Only two partner and community organizations will receive the increased amount in annual funding they requested from the City of Elkins, while others will receive the same amount they got last year, according to the approved 2026 General Fund Budget.

Last week Council approved the new budget, which includes proposed funding for partner and community organizations. 17 organizations, according to the General Fund Budget, requested funding from the city for FY 2026.

Of the 17 who requested funding, nine requested increases over what they received in FY 2025. Only two, however, were recommended by the city’s Finance Committee to receive their requested increases.

“Everybody’s the same as they had last year,” Elkins City Treasurer Tracy Judy told Council during the March 20 meeting. “Nobody is receiving what they requested other than the warming station and the $3,000 increase for the Humane Officer. Other than that, nobody is getting an increase.”

Elkins City Clerk Sutton Stokes said the $3,000 funding increase to the Randolph County Humane Officer was requested by the Randolph County Commission. The Humane Officer was allocated $10,000 for FY 2026. In FY 2025, the Humane Officer received $7,000.

The “warming station” is a new addition to the allocation list this year. Stokes said the station is a “community coalition organized to provide a warming station in the Ekins area, when temperatures dip below 20 degrees Fahrenheit.” Warming station officials have been allocated their requested $1,000 for FY 2026.

Before the vote, Fourth Ward Council member Nanci Bross-Fregonara raised an issue with Country Roads Transit, which requested $20,000 for FY 2026, only being allocated the same amount it received in FY 2025, $15,000. 

Fregonara stated that, with the sudden lack of federal funding across the country, she was worried about public transportation grants for the organization as they “rely heavily” on a 50-50 match with what they are given by the city.

“I feel like there is going to be a greater need for public transportation,” Fregonara said. “I think there is a need for it now… I would rather see some other organization receive less, whether it’s the Development Authority… they got what they requested.”

The Development Authority did not ask for a funding increase for FY 2026 and was allocated their requested $13,500, the same amount they received in FY 2025.

Fregonara was considering requesting an amendment to the General Fund Budget on behalf of Country Roads Transit when Fourth Ward Council Member Andrew Carroll asked Judy if there was a process for organizations to come back and request again if things were to change critically on the federal level. Judy said she believed the door was always open.

“At the end of the day, it’s going to be, what do we have left,” Judy explained. “And the letters that go out to the organizations that are rewarded also states, ‘as long as funds are available.'”

Stokes also brought up the city’s “mid-year contribution request” and stated that “there is never anything stopping anyone from asking” for funding. After this discussion, Fregonara did not request the amendment. 

The General Fund Budget was approved by all nine council members who were present during the March 20 meeting. First Ward Council Member Cody Kerns was absent.

Despite being put on hold with the city “hitting the reset button” on the organization, Elkins Main Street was listed among the partner and community organizations for FY 2026.

Though the organization did not request any funding for FY 2026, the Finance Committee, according to the General Fund Budget, recommended that they be allocated the same amount they received in FY 2025, $5,000. Main Street did not receive the recommended funding.

The other partner and community organizations who will receive funding for FY 2026 include:

The Airport Authority, who requested $25,000 for FY 2026, will be allocated $15,000, as they were in FY 2025.

Appalachian Forest Heritage, who requested $7,000 for FY 2026, will be allocated $2,000, as they were in FY 2025.

The Arts Center, who did not ask for a funding increase for FY 2026, will be allocated their requested $5,000.

The Elkins-Randolph Chamber of Commerce, who requested $5,000 for FY 2026, will be allocated $2,500 as they were in FY 2025.

The Child Advocacy Center, who did not ask for a funding increase for FY 2026, will be allocated their requested $10,000.

Citizens Promoting Community, who requested $5,000 for FY 2026, will be allocated $2,500, as they were in FY 2025.

The Randolph County Emergency Medical Squad, who did not ask for a funding increase for FY 2026, will be allocated their requested $50,000.

The Health Department, who did not ask for a funding increase for FY 2026, will be allocated their requested $5,500.

The Elkins Historic Landmark Commission, who requested $4,200 for FY 2026, will be allocated $4,000 as they were in FY 2025.

The Randolph County Humane Society, who did not ask for a funding increase for FY 2026, will be allocated their requested $12,000.

The Elkins-Randolph County Public Library, who did not ask for a funding increase for FY 2026, will be allocated their requested $22,500.

Our Town (for its July 4th fireworks display), who did not ask for a funding increase for FY 2026, will be allocated their requested $2,500.

The Tree Board, who requested $4,000 for FY 2026, will be allocated $3,700 as they were in FY 2025.