Budget FUBAR

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Update: 3/24/2026

From a recent social media post from Mayor Dodge:

"I’m proud to share that our budget form has been updated, and we will be able to levy our taxes again beginning July 1, 2026. I confirmed this today in a call with the State Auditor’s Office. We will be holding our budget revision meeting and confirming the 26-27 budget for approval Thursday evening. "

"This outcome would not have been possible without the leadership and support of many. A sincere thank you to Senator Randy Smith for sponsoring the bill, the West Virginia State Senate for its unanimous passage, the House of Delegates for passing it with an overwhelming 92 votes, and the Governor for signing it into law."

"This legislation provides us with a path forward and corrects an outdated law that previously prevented towns from recovering from situations like ours. While they shouldn't happen, there now hope, where there was not." 

Revised: 3/9/2026

In June 2025, Terra Alta voters reelected Mayor Dan Hauger, the only candidate on the ballot, with 59 votes. The reelection came despite a developing problem with the town’s Fiscal Year 2025–2026 budget. Town officials later confirmed that Terra Alta failed to submit the required budget to the West Virginia State Auditor’s Office, despite multiple warnings and notices, including certified mail. Because the filing deadline passed, the town was unable to levy or collect municipal property taxes for the fiscal year, resulting in a loss of at least $200,000 in expected municipal revenue.

On July 1, 2025, the first day of the new mayoral term, Hauger resigned from office for a second time. The newly elected and seated Town Council then began an official search for an appointed replacement.

At an earlier special meeting, the Terra Alta Town Council had appointed former mayor Monk Tasker as interim mayor following the May 27, 2025 resignation of Mayor Hauger. In that resignation, Hauger wrote, “I have reached my mental and physical breaking point and feel that I am no longer capable of meeting the requirements of holding the position of mayor.”

Tasker was appointed to serve while the council conducted its search for a permanent replacement.

On July 15, 2025, the council appointed Josh Dodge as mayor to serve the remainder of the term. Following his appointment, Dodge said resolving the town’s budget crisis would be his administration’s top priority. His strategy has centered on seeking assistance from the governor’s office in Charleston and from local elected state representatives, with the goal of securing legislative or administrative relief during the 2026 West Virginia regular legislative session.

In an open letter to Governor Patrick Morrisey, Dodge appealed for assistance from the governor, state administrative agencies, and other officials who might help. The mayor emphasized that the town was not seeking charity, but assistance that could help the small community stabilize its finances and remain viable.

 After a Dec. 2, 2025 social media post from Mayor Dodge stating that there had been an acknowledgment of receipt of the letter from the governor's office, updates from Town Hall regarding progress slowed to nary a trickle. 

As of the publication of this article, five working days remain in the 2026 West Virginia legislative session.