Mineral sets annual financial reviews for fire companies

Greg Larry, Cumberland Times-News, Md.
·2 min read

Nov. 8—KEYSER, W.Va. — Mineral County officials voted recently to require its 11 volunteer fire departments to begin submitting annual financial audits.

The vote took place Oct. 26 during a meeting of the Mineral County Commission in Keyser. Commissioners Jerry Whisner, Charles "Dutch" Staggs and Roger Leatherman unanimously agreed to implement the financial review schedule.

Fire companies that fail to submit a financial review will be subject to withholding of their fire levy funding.

"The first (reviews) will take place after the state auditors come," said Luke Mc- Kenzie, county administrator.

West Virginia conducts audits of the fire companies across the state every five years. State audits for the Mineral County fire departments are scheduled for early 2024. Combining the state audits and county financial reviews, the fire companies will be subject to annual reporting.

"Any year the state auditor is not doing a review they will have to submit a review to us," said McKenzie.

Whisner said the county financial reviews will focus on revenues and expenditures.

"If they don't turn in the audits then we would hold their levy funds," said Whisner. "We give them disbursements every quarter from the levy."

According to McKenzie, each fire department receives about $60,000 annually.

Whisner said none of the volunteer fire companies are under suspicion of financial wrongdoing, but a regular review of each unit's books would be prudent.

"The levy is taxpayer money so we want to be accountable for that money," said Whisner. "We don't want to be a burden to the fire companies but the whole idea is to prevent embezzlement.

"I think we've done a good job. I don't think there had been any problems since we've worked on it. I think everybody agrees that everybody needs to be accountable," added Whisner.

McKenzie said that the fire companies have not protested the idea of financial reviews.

"I don't think anyone is necessarily oppositional to it," said McKenzie. "It will cost the departments a little bit of money but it's a major deterrent."

Greg Larry is a reporter at the Cumberland Times-News. To reach him, call 304-639-4951, email glarry@times-news.com and follow him on Twitter @GregLarryCTN.