Upshur County Board recesses levy vote after officials report $239,510 drop in levy receipts

The Upshur County Board of Education recessed action on proposed levy rates and set a public hearing for April 15 after staff disclosed a projected $239,510 drop in levy receipts under the current rates.

During the special levy meeting, the board’s administrative staff presented the proposed levy schedule and the certificate of evaluation. “There is a decrease that we will be receiving, from the levy of $239,510,” Speaker 3 said when describing the comparison to last year’s levy under the same rates. Staff said the schedule will be forwarded to the state auditor’s office and published in the local newspaper as required by law, and final board action was deferred until after the statutorily required public hearing.

Board member Parker (Speaker 6) raised concerns about declining valuations and the uncertainty of state aid: he cited approximately $30,000,000 drops in valuation in certain property classes and asked whether the state aid formula would make up the difference. Speaker 3 said the board cannot be certain while the legislature is still considering changes to the school aid formula.

To allow for public review and the formal hearing process, Speaker 6 moved to recess the levy matter and reconvene on April 15 at 5:30 p.m.; Speaker 8 seconded the motion and the voice vote was recorded as unanimous. The board did not take a final vote on the levy schedule at the meeting.

Next steps: district staff will forward the levy documentation to the state auditor, publish the required notice in the local newspaper, and present the levy for final consideration when the board reconvenes on April 15 at 5:30 p.m.