After some Putnam County departments received less in state funding this year, department directors reassured Putnam County Commissioners they are prepared if more cuts are made in the future.
After a roughly 25 percent decrease in funding from the state, the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department is anticipating another 10 percent cut next year, said Lolita Kirk, director of the Kanwaha-Charleston Health Department.
The department has coped with the reduced funding by not filling support staff roles, instead distributing duties among employees. This has allowed the department to maintain nursing and sanitarian staff, Kirk said.
"We're fortunate we haven't had to lay anyone off," Kirk said.
Kirk told the commissioners on Tuesday the department's projected revenue is on par with the budget, but expenses were lower than expected because the department knew cuts from state aid were coming and the department has been spending more cautiously.
Putnam County libraries received roughly the same amount of funding as last year, and Putnam County Library director Megan Tarbett reassured county commissioners the department is prepared if any cuts are made in the future.
The Putnam County Library has seen an increase in circulation all around.
That's particularly true with the Buffalo branch, which has seen a 25 percent increase in circulation and almost as much increase in foot traffic, Tarbett said.
Tarbett was impressed because around 6,000 people visited the branch last fiscal year.
"There's not that many people over there," she said.
The library has also increased programming for all ages, not just children. Tarbett said the only service that has seen a decrease is computer usage because most patrons bring their own wireless devices.
In the coming year, Tarbett said she hopes to open the Eleanor library on Saturdays, and keep the Hurricane branch open until 7 p.m. on Wednesdays to match the rest of the week. Currently the branch closes early at 5 p.m.
Drew Dunlap, executive director of the Putnam County Development Authority, said the development authority will be moving with the Putnam County Chamber of Commerce to a new building on W.Va. 34 near Interstate 64.
The development authority will pay a bit more in rent each month but will be able to save money in other areas. The development authority and chamber will have the same contract for internet and other services instead of having separate, more costly individual contracts.
With Patriot Coal moving out of its corporate office in Scott Depot, the company is selling its office furniture at an extremely reduced price, he said, so they've been trying to purchase furniture from them.
He also said he's had some international businesses look into expanding into Putnam County, but most businesses are waiting until the election is over to make any definite plans.
Scott Williamson, executive director of Putnam County Parks and Recreation, said the little library in Valley Park has been overflowing with books and he is considering adding a second one at the back of the park.
The parks department has also been working on the trails to fix any problem areas.
Jamie Hunt, director of the Community Corrections department, said the department has saved about $10,000 on the cash match side of the budget. The state made cuts to the department's funding, but the department was able to get by by having three officers absorb the duties of the unfulfilled community service position.
Reach Laura Haight at laura.haight@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-4843 or follow @laurahaight_ on Twitter.