What's your city budget suggestion?

The Parkersburg city budget has been posted on The News and Sentinel website as an attachment to previous stories and columns dealing with the $3-a-week user fee proposed by Mayor Bob Newell and apparently supported by city council.

The city administration maintains there is nothing in the budget that can be cut without seriously adversely affecting city services. The mayor has said city employees will be paying a larger percentage of their health care premiums in the future and longevity pay is up for discussion, but nothing has been set in legislation to accomplish either proposal. We are left to trust that such actions will be forthcoming ... apparently after the user fee is enacted.

The News and Sentinel is asking readers to take a look at the budget and determine what cuts you think could be or should be made and send those suggestions to us at editorial@newsandsentinel.com or at our main office at News and Sentinel, 519 Juliana St., Parkersburg, WV 26101, possibly to be included in future stories about the budget and user fee.

The time is now for Parkersburg residents -- and non-residents who directly will be affected by a user fee -- to speak up and make your voices be heard.