Huntington's Sinking (Budget) Ship

Budget cuts and furloughs are not what most city employees hope to deal with, but in Huntington it’s the bleak reality.

At his February 13 State of the City Address, Mayor Kim Wolfe proposed a 10 percent budget cut for all city expenditures. He also proposed unpaid, forced time off for all city employees, excluding himself and members of the Council.



Mayor Wolfe said he plans to cut Huntington’s estimated $44 million dollar list of expenditures down to $40 million.



16 percent of the city’s expected revenue is supposed to come from the municipal service fee, but in Huntington many residents aren’t paying up. Mayor Wolfe printed names of those residents who haven’t paid their bill in the newspaper. After his State of the City address, he said he wouldn’t stop there.

Mayor Wolfe said he would put liens on properties and turn names over to collection agencies.

Huntington’s largest expenditures, the police and fire departments, make up 48 percent of the outgoing budget – or $20.9 million. In an effort to save money there, Mayor Wolfe proposed cutting all civilian positions, meaning police officers and fire fighters would be forced to pull double duty – on the front line and behind the secretary’s desk.

Huntington Police Chief Skip Holbrook says he’s not happy about taking skilled officers off the street. He called it a “swift kick to the gut,” but said he will support the mayor’s decision.

Mayor Wolfe said these cuts are a “worst case scenario.”

City Council members, beginning February 27, will make final decisions on the budget for fiscal year 2011 following four weeks of special budget meetings.