Nov. 8--Kingwood and Morgantown see their shares of coal severance tax revenue fluctuate from quarter to quarter.

Morgantown received $37,010.05 in April, $27,041.08 in June and $28,277.82 in October. All those were higher than its April 2005 share of $19,397.31.

City Finance Director Denise White said her office is prepared for changes and budgets based on the previous fiscal year's income, keeping recent trends in mind. Total FY 2009 income was $131,991.89. White said the city budgeted $169,831 in coal severance for FY 2010, including some carryover.

The money generally goes into the capital fund, but will go into the general fund for 2010 because revenue has flattened.

That doesn't mean the money will be spent.

The city has a $547,710 contingency line item and can reassess the coal money later in the fiscal year.

Kingwood received $4,064.22 in April, $2,969.49 in June and $3,105.30 in October.

Its April 2005 coal severance share was $2,130.09. Its FY 2009 total was $14,495.54.

City Clerk Martha Moore said Kingwood uses the money to buy salt and cinders for snow and ice removal, and generally uses it all. Costs can vary, but the last load of salt cost $1,800 she said, and the hauling fee alone for a load of cinders is $1,000.

For FY 2010, Moore said, Kingwood has budgeted coal severance income at $10,000, and salt and cinder expenditures at $38,620. The city's total annual budget, she said, is about $1.6 million.

Mon's share increases from April

As coal-producing counties, Monongalia and Marion both get two disbursements.

Mon received $290,143.85 in October -- $178,801.01 from the 75 percent pot and $51,470.49 from the 25 percent pot. Its take from the bigger pot reflects a 17.31 percent increase over April's share of $147,838.44.

In April 2005, Mon received $206,591.70.

County Administrator Diane DeMedici said Mon budgets its income on an annual basis, not quarterly receipts. The full-year approach helps things balance out, she said. Each spring, counties statewide prepare a separate coal severance budget that takes effect July 1, the first day of the new fiscal year.

Mon's FY 2009 coal tax income was $901,134.97. DeMedici said it is used for smaller expenditures, such as community centers, senior centers and recreational activities.

Marion County received $676,134.55 in April and $486,189.66 in October. The biggest share of that dip came from coal production revenue, which fell 28.35 percent, from $630,041.67 in April to $457,848.55 in October.

Marion's April 2005 total share was $337,438.20.

Marion County Administrator Kris Cinalli said the county views the money as a sort of surplus budget. "We try not to count on it for the budget year so it won't hurt daily operations" when it fluctuates. "We try not to stake too much on it."

The money goes to support some nonprofit agencies, the county extension office, and, as available, various capital expenses such as sheriff's department cruisers, voting machines and building upgrades.

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