Ohio County Board of Education members on Tuesday morning officially set the school district’s excess levy rate at 95.5%, keeping the rate at the same level as it has been for recent years.

Board members met briefly and unanimously approved the rate, which allows Ohio County Schools to assess taxpayers at the rate of 95.5% of the maximum levy amount permitted under state law.

The levy generates about $38 million each year, representing an amount equal to about 45% of the Ohio County Schools annual operating budget, according to Steven Bieniek, business manager for Ohio County Schools.

Every percentage change in the levy up or down by the board would either increase or decrease the levy by $221,703, he has explained.

Members next passed a second motion, establishing an excess levy rate of 100% for a portion of the levy benefiting the Ohio County Public Library. The library’s share of the excess levy revenue is about $928,121 at the rate approved by Ohio County voters last year.

Lastly, board members approved the certificate of valuation for properties in the county provided by the Ohio County Assessor’s Office. The office has set the 2025-2026 total assessed property values for the county at $3,158,340,579 — down $475 million from this year.

This is expected to result in the Ohio County Schools excess levies generating about $8,788,057 million less next year through both its excess levy and its regular levy, according to Bieniek.

The expected decline in next year’s revenue — coupled with money not received as a result of the Hope Scholarships in West Virginia — is predicted to force the elimination of 16 teaching positions next year in Ohio County Schools, Superintendent Kim Miller has explained. Most of these will take place through attrition, she added.

Bieniek has estimated next year’s general fund budget in Ohio County Schools at about $83 million, an amount on par with recent years.