Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Wetzel County board approves 2026–27 levy estimates, projects $5.5 million revenue uptick for school construction
Summary
The Wetzel County Board of Education unanimously approved the 2026–27 levy estimates, citing an estimated $5.5 million rise in tax revenue tied to local oil and gas activity. Board leaders noted the district receives no state aid and must cover state pay and PEIA increases locally.
The Wetzel County Board of Education voted unanimously to approve the 2026–27 levy estimates and general current expense funds at its April meeting, adopting an assessment the superintendent said will yield about $5.5 million in additional tax revenue for the coming year.
Superintendent Mrs. Porter presented the assessed-value analysis, noting wide year-to-year swings tied to local oil and gas activity. "You'll see that there's 11% increase in fiscal year 21 ... 24 shows a 33% increase followed by an 87% increase in fiscal year 25 mainly due to the oil and gas under Wetzel County," she said, and added that fiscal year 26 showed a 38% decrease before the current estimate that reflects an 11% increase over FY26. "Bottom line is that green box is what our fiscal year 27 estimated assessed values will be, an increase of 5.5 million," she said.
Board members pressed for clarification on what the levy covers. Mrs. Porter said the district receives no state aid for these items and must locally fund state-mandated salary increases and rising Public Employees Insurance Agency (PEIA) costs, adding that the board has committed to prior local raises (including a $5,000 and $3,000 supplement referenced in the budget process) as revenues allow. "We get no state aid," she said. "We will also eat that as well," referring to PEIA increases.
Mr. Castello moved approval of the levy estimates; Mrs. Faulkner seconded the motion, and the board approved the estimates unanimously. The board noted staff will continue trimming the budget as it plans for a new school and absorbs personnel cost increases.
The approval allows the district to proceed with budgeting assumptions used for planning and for continued work toward the planned new school project. The superintendent said geotechnical work and permitting for the new school are moving forward but that some permit items (wetlands, mussel and bat studies) remain under state review.
Next steps for the budget process include continued review of personnel costs, PEIA impacts and planned capital expenses related to the new school.
