……..Hancock County finally passed a balanced budget. I can’t remember when putting together the County’s budget was more contentious and I think the people spoke their wishes on the budget with the resounding defeat of Commission President Eron Chek who had advocated for a 15% cut to the Sheriff’s office.
…….After the budget was passed, Commissioner Paul Cowey explained to those in attendance that balancing the budget was a challenge because of the loss of 50% of the Racetrack Video Lottery Revenue 3 years ago. Instead of receiving 2% of the revenue, legislation sponsored by soon-to-be former Del. Mark Zatezalo gave 1% to the incorporated cities in Hancock County. In one of the most astonishing legislative screw ups, Zatezalo said he was not aware the legislation required that an incorporated city had to be WHOLLY located in Hancock County. Weirton is not. Part of Weirton is in Brooke County. Weirton therefore did not receive any of the Racetrack Video Lottery’s revenue under Zatezalo’s bill only New Cumberland and Chester. Weirton is in Zatezalo’s district. New Cumberland and Chester are not in his district. I would wager that inattention to what was in his own bill, is a major reason Zatezalo was defeated,
…….Passing the buck is a popular game played by politicians and the Legislature is a convenient place to put that blame. I don’t buy that. The Legislature may pass or kill the bills, but their constituents have a responsibility to speak up and let the legislature how the bill will impact them. Did anyone do that when the bill to take 1% and give it to the municipalities and leave the County with 1%. was introduced and going through the legislative process?
……… The Commissioners’ loss of Racetrack Video Lottery isn’t just a result of the sponsor of the bill, but the fault of the Commissioners who failed to track a bill that would decimate their budget. Paul Cowey was on the Commission when it happened 3 years ago. Was he making phone calls to kill that bill ?Was he in Charleston lobbying against the bill and pleading the Commissioner’s case? Apparently no one was.
…….In past years, Commissioners checked the bills introduced regularly to see if any bill affected the Commission or their constituents. When we passed Racetrack Video Lottery, all three commissioners were in constant contact by phone and were also in Charleston regarding passing the bill. As a result not only did the bill passed, but that 2% went to the County. Without the Commissioners’ support, I doubt if we could have gotten the bill passed.
…….The County is also a member of County Officials’ Association which has a lobbyist at the Capital each day of the legislative session. Did the County Officials’ Association lobbyist alert the Hancock County Commission of the bill or lobby to keep the Commission’s percentage intact? Apparently not. Are dues to that organization contained in the budget?
……..I learned of the bill that cut the county’s revenue in half 3 years ago because I checked bills which were introduced and followed the progress of those bills which impacted Hancock County. I knew of the bill cutting the county’s revenue before the commission did. The Commission wasn’t paying attention to bills which impacted them three years ago. They also weren’t being pro-active on checking with their delegates and senators. Finally, they were paying dues to an organization that wasn’t looking after their interests.
……There’s enough wiggle room in the Racetrack Video Lottery distribution to take a 1/2 of 1% from one dedicated fund and another 1/2 of 1% from another so that the municipalities didn’t lose their one % and the County didn’t lose their 2%. But, to do that you have to have someone to offer the amendment and advocate for its passage. As soon as the general election is over, I would challenge our Commission, the Mayors and Council of the municipalities and our legislative delegation to come together for a meeting and agree on legislation to fix this problem.
