Boone County Commission asking for 20 percent spending cut

BOONE COUNTY, W.Va. — The Boone County Commission is asking elected officials in the county to cut a fifth of their budgets.

The cut, announced Tuesday, comes after the commission ordered an 8% decrease in spending earlier this year.

According to the commission, a decline in coal severance tax is the main reason for the request. The county is also around $2 million short in this year’s budget compared to last year.

The effects of the cut include a loss of deputies with the Boone County Sheriff’s Department, which has already been cut.

Official budgets are scheduled to be proposed next week. The cuts are set to go into effect on Sept. 15.