CHARLESTON CITY COUNCIL PASSES FY2025 BUDGET

(Charleston, W. Va.) – The City of Charleston 2024 - 2025 budget, presented by Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin and Finance Director Andy Wood during the March 4 Finance Committee meeting, was approved during tonight’s Charleston City Council meeting.  This budget will go into effect July 1, 2024.

“This budget is centered on investments in our people, places, and spaces – and the way we operate – beginning with our City employees,” said Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin.  “This budget maintains funding for paving and building demolitions and makes sure there are no new taxes or fees, but it also ensures we are taking care of our city employees – including funding for new boots and coats, coverage outside of normal working hours, more take-home cars for our officers, streamlining current processes, compensating the teams we rely on in an emergency, and making sure our teams have the equipment they need to be efficient in serving our community.”    

The City’s FY2025 Budget:

• Maintains all critical City services and operations 
• Does not include any new taxes or fees or increases to taxes or fees
• Maintains funding for paving and building demolitions
• Continues plan to achieve a $15/hour starting wage
• Includes an across-the-board pay raise for all employees – including police and fire.
• Provides financial incentives for uniformed employees (police and fire) to encourage participation in special team assignments that require increased training and certifications – examples include SWAT, Marine Unit, dive teams, Hazmat teams and others
• Increases the uniform budget for employees who work outside/in the elements every day
• Creates the Turf Maintenance Fund to accumulate resources for the eventual replacement of the significant investments that have been made in the city’s athletic fields. 
• Includes funding for grass and materials necessary to restore Cato golf course
• Adds funding for a part-time employee and additional resources for Humane Officers
• Creates the Development Services Office – integrating the Building and Planning Departments and streamlining code enforcement and demolitions