WELLSBURG -- The Brooke County Board of Education was slated to consider the levy call and a special election for its five-year operating levy during a meeting Monday, but those moves have been tabled because of a legislative issue affecting their ability to hold such an election.
Deidra Parr, the school board's treasurer, explained last year the West Virginia Legislature passed House Bill 5343, which calls for the state's school boards and other governmental bodies to place new or existing levies on ballots only in regular or general elections.
The Brooke County school district is among school districts in the state that have put operating and other levies up for vote in special elections held solely to determine their fate.
Parr said the problem with the legislation is the operating levy for Brooke County Schools, as well as other school districts in the state, is on a five-year term so it's not up for renewal during a regular election year.
She said Brooke County school officials have reached out to state Sen. Ryan Weld, R-Wellsburg, to address the problem.
Weld said he has proposed legislation providing an exception for levies that will expire in 2024 but after that, the governmental entities behind them will need to adjust their terms so they can be put up for vote in a regular election.
The exception is pending passage by the state Legislature, which is slated to adjourn on March 11.
Parr said renewal of the five-year levy will affect funding for the 2024-25 school year.
The proposed levy before the board at a special meeting on Monday would generate $11.3 million over five years for expenses ranging from equipment and materials for classrooms to staff for programs and extracurricular activities not covered by the state Department of Education's funding formula.
Five-year levies supporting Brooke County's emergency departments and other services were put up for renewal in November by the Brooke County Commission, which cited concerns they would be confused with the school levy if placed on ballots in the same election.