NEW CUMBERLAND, WV (March 7, 2025) — The Hancock County Commission is taking proactive steps to ensure the long-term financial stability of our community by making thoughtful adjustments to county budgets in response to a decline in general revenue. These adjustments are part of a county-wide effort to protect essential services while aligning expenditures with today’s economic realities.
Following a thorough review of county finances and comparisons with similar counties across West Virginia, the Commission is making necessary budget reductions across all departments. These decisions, while challenging, reflect the Commission’s commitment to responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars and ensuring county government remains efficient, effective, and sustainable.
The Commission has worked closely with all county departments, elected officials, and community partners throughout this process to identify fair, data-driven reductions that are focused on preserving essential services and public safety. The Commission also remains committed to keeping the public informed every step of the way.
The adjustments include reductions across every department, with each area contributing to the overall effort. These include a 13% reduction to the Commission’s operating budget, modest decreases of 2% to 5% to the budgets of other elected officials’ offices, and a 30% reduction to the Sheriff’s Office budget, which was based on a comprehensive review of spending data from counties similar to Hancock in both size and services provided.
“These adjustments are not about eliminating services — they are about ensuring we are using every taxpayer dollar wisely and aligning our spending with what is reasonable for counties like ours,” said Commission President Eron Chek. “Even if we completely drained our rainy-day fund, it would not come close to covering the projected deficit. These proactive adjustments are necessary to protect our county’s future and ensure we can continue providing core services to the community.”
To ensure a fair and fact-based approach, the Commission conducted a side-by-side comparison with other West Virginia counties, evaluating spending per capita, departmental budgets, and overall county costs. This analysis helped identify areas where spending could be brought into closer alignment with similar counties while still maintaining the services residents rely on.
The rainy-day fund, even if fully depleted, would not be enough to close the gap. Additionally, the West Virginia State Auditor has made clear that the rainy-day fund is intended only for true emergencies — such as catastrophic building failures or community disasters — not for balancing routine operational budgets.
“These decisions were not made lightly, and they were not made in a vacuum,” said Commissioner Tommy Ogden. “We’ve looked at every option, and the reality is that responsible reductions now will help prevent much more drastic cuts later. Our goal is to ensure Hancock County remains financially strong and able to meet the needs of our residents, not just today but for years to come.”
In addition to aligning spending with comparable counties, these budget adjustments are necessary to prepare for ongoing financial pressures, including rising costs of employee benefits, fuel, and insurance and inflation. At the same time, the county must plan for the continued loss of key revenue sources resulting from recent state legislation and local economic changes. These challenges include reduced county video lottery revenue following 2023 legislation, the closure of the Cleveland-Cliffs Steel Mill, which resulted in more than $1 million in uncollected personal property taxes, increasing costs associated with the regional jail bill, declining coal severance funds, and reduced property tax revenue due to exemptions for seniors and veterans.
“We are all focused on the same goal — making sure Hancock County remains financially stable without placing unnecessary burdens on taxpayers,” said Commissioner Paul R. Cowey, III. “By acting now, we are positioning our county for long-term success and preserving the critical services our residents depend on.”
The Hancock County Commission appreciates residents’ understanding and support as we work together through these difficult but necessary adjustments. With thoughtful planning and cooperation, we are confident that Hancock County will emerge stronger and more resilient.
For more information or to stay up-to-date, please visit the Hancock County Commission online at www.hancockcountywv.org.
