Monongalia County Board approves proposed 2025–26 property tax levy rates

The Monongalia County Board of Education voted April 15 to adopt the proposed property tax levy rates for fiscal year 2025–26 after a short presentation from the district treasurer and no public commenters on the item.

Treasurer Nicole Kemper told the board the regular levy rates for fiscal 2026 will be 38.8 cents on class II property and 77.6 cents on classes III and IV. She said excess-levy rates would be 33.5 cents for class II and 67 cents for classes III and IV, and the district’s bond rates would be 2.58 cents for class II and 5.16 cents for classes III and IV.

Kemper said the district is projecting lower property-tax receipts next year: “Our excess levy revenues have decreased by $3,600,000,” and the district is seeing “a $4,000,000 property tax revenue decrease” going into fiscal 2026. She also said the net effect through the state-aid formula is about $400,000. Kemper described several cost items the district absorbed this year, including summer and after‑school programming and universal breakfast and lunch funding, and said the board will receive the proposed budget in May.

The superintendent recommended adoption. A board member moved to approve the proposed levy rates and another member seconded; the motion carried on an oral vote.

Why it matters: the levy rates determine the county’s property-tax yield for school operations and debt service. Kemper told the board that the district faces a fall in locally raised revenue and expects to present a balanced budget to the board in May.

The board adjourned the levy-rate portion of the meeting after voting to adopt the rates.