In addition to a 3 percent budget cut for each elected official's agency, Kanawha County commissioners plan to cut funding to several outside agencies, as well.
Of the eight outside agencies the County Commission currently funds, six of them are looking at budget cuts, for a total savings of $450,000.
Commissioners said the cuts are based mostly on how effective the agencies are in the county.
The two agencies that were not asked to cut anything were Kanawha Valley Senior Services and the Kanawha-Charleston Humane Association. The commission is the largest governmental contributor to the Humane Association, which receives $212,500 from the county.
Commissioner Dave Hardy said he has been pleased with the shelter's new leadership and its transition to a "no kill" shelter.
"We have a fantastic relationship with the Kanawha County Commission," said Chelsea Staley, executive director of the Humane Association.
About 80 percent of the Humane Association's budget comes from private donations. Kanawha County's contribution makes up almost half of the rest.
Other agencies, like the Chemical Alliance Zone, which gets $25,000, and West Virginia University's Extension program in Kanawha County, which gets $60,000, were told to expect nothing next year.
"We've always had mixed feelings about the Extension Office," Hardy said.
The Extension program works on community development in Kanawha County, offering classes, agricultural assistance, job training and programs for children.
"If we lose county funding, there's nowhere else we can pick it up," said Kerri Wade, the Extension agent who specializes in health and family development.
WVU pays $7 for every dollar the commission contributes, and Kanawha County contributes the second-least out of the eight West Virginia counties that have three Extension agents.
The WVU Extension program is facing more than just cuts to its own budget. Camp Virgil Tate, which also is used by the Extension's 4-H program, is looking at losing $50,000 for next year.
The other agency losing all of its funding, the Chemical Alliance Zone, is a nonprofit economic development group that serves the chemical industry in West Virginia.
About 13 percent of the group's budget comes from the Kanawha County Commission, and Director Kevin DiGregorio plans to ask the commission for $20,000.
Hardy said he isn't sure he's seen any benefit the alliance zone has provided to the county.
"At some point," he said, "you need to see the results."
The other agency that has the commission questioning results is the Charleston Area Alliance, a local economic development group. Hardy is a board member for that group.
He praised the alliance's efforts in community development and its work within Charleston, but Commissioners Kent Carper and Hoppy Shores aren't quite sold.
"It's been a lull all across the board, in terms of economic development announcements," Hardy said.
The proposed cut to the alliance is $95,000, which is 67 percent of its current funding from the county.
"I don't think it's going to harm the agency if we make the cut," Hardy said.
Hardy said he wants to know the funding sources for the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department, which is looking at a 50 percent cut to its $200,000 in funding.
The health department plans on presenting that to the commission at the March 10 meeting and would not share its funding details with the Gazette-Mail.
Another agency facing a $100,000 cut is the Parks and Recreation Commission.
Last year, the County Commission helped Parks and Recreation fund several projects for Coonskin Park, including a new entrance to the park.
"I think we would all agree that the commission has invested a substantial amount of money in the parks the last two election cycles," Hardy said.
Parks and Recreation Director Jeff Hutchinson said the agency hopes to make more revenue from golf this year. There is a new superintendent at Big Bend Golf Course and the Parks and Recreation Commission has attempted to work on both of the courses in the county.
The amount of revenue that Parks and Recreation makes is largely dependent on the weather, and that means the cuts certainly won't help.
"Losing $100,000, it always hurts," Hutchinson said. "It's not like we have excess money all over the place over here."
None of the proposed cuts is final. The County Commission will hear presentations from all the outside agencies before it makes any decisions. Additionally, any cuts will be affected by the Legislature's final budget.
"These cuts could get worse or better, depending on what our income is," Carper said.
Carper said he is trying to rein in spending as much as he can.
"I will not let Kanawha County fall into the same hole that I've seen other counties fall into," he said.
Reach Daniel Desrochers at dan.desrochers@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-4886 or follow @drdesrochers on Twitter.