Projections for State of the City

In a preview of his upcoming State of the City address, Huntington Mayor Steve Williams revealed Wednesday that the city’s general fund budget will be decreasing by 5 percent compared to last year’s budget.

Williams said there would be cuts but no reductions in services or layoffs. He did not specifically state where the cuts would happen. Williams was quick to defend the budget change and said a restructuring of operations would allow the cuts to be made without serious negative effects.

 “We’re not cutting the budget,” Williams said. “The revenues are declining, and I’m making an adjustment. We’re living within our means.”

The budget for 2015 will be $43.3 million. Last year’s budget was $45.1 million.

The decreased budget and its effects will likely be the main talking point for Williams in his address Tuesday. Williams will defend his cut by explaining the city’s projections of a 5 percent decrease in revenue.

In his preview, Williams cited newly completed projects on Marshall’s campus as a reason for the decrease in revenue. With the construction of a new engineering complex nearing its end and a recently finished athletic complex, Williams said Huntington will lose nearly $2 million in revenue in 2015.

To make up for this decrease, Williams said he has found alternatives that will allow the city to remain financially solid. These alternatives include creating efficient structures that provide services more cost-effectively and increasing the collection of fees and fines owed to the city.

While thorough discussion of the budget cuts and explanations will make up most of the address, Williams will likely mention the ongoing growth occurring in Huntington. In his preview, the mayor said the state of the city is solid and growth-oriented.

“It is strong, vibrant, at the beginning of a renaissance,” Williams said.

Williams described some of the new planned developments that are adding to the strong state of the city. Demolition of the Northcott Court public housing complex along Hal Greer Boulevard is already underway, and the plans for the area involve both commercial and retail buildings.

Williams will talk about this project and a few others to show that despite the revenue drop, Huntington is growing and evolving.

The 70-acre Marshall-Highlawn area of industrial properties is also a planned location for development. Williams said development of hotels, a baseball stadium and retail and commercial properties has been discussed for the large city space.

Williams is also likely to mention the River to Rail initiative that is designed to reduce crime in central city, a place referred to by Williams as a “diamond in the rough.”

In his preview, Williams introduced the idea of a “virtual ribbon,” involving a citywide broadband Internet network that would tie the projects together and create a solid business-friendly infrastructure in Huntington.

Overall, Williams will use the State of the City address to provide explanations for the budget cuts, while showing the positive growth Huntington is experiencing.

Williams will deliver the address 3 p.m. Tuesday in the City Council chambers at City Hall.