School Levies Up for Renewal

[Bamby]

Folks, We just had a national general election and IMHO this underhanded maneuver to ensure they more or less vote in their own levies simply sucks big time and I don't even live in the counties involved. But they pulled the very same stunt where I live just a few short years ago.

Special Elections Set in Marshall, Tyler and Wetzel

Simms, as well as officials with Wetzel and Tyler counties, said they generally place the levies on the ballot for renewal in special elections, rather than have the issues before voters during that year's general election.


Simms said it usually costs about $80,000 to hold the special election.


"We have always placed it on the ballot as a special election. When there are issues on the ballot during a general election, they usually fail," said Tyler County Schools Superintendent Robin Daquilante.

You can see the link above for how it breaks down and the moneys spent.. Here their was even an additional 10 mil. for a special auditorium for a place for the kids to play their flutes.

 

[Doc]

Underhanded maneuver indeed. If only they would make the school or whoever wants the 'special' election pay for it out of their own funds, then you would see a drop in them. To cost the taxpayers more money for an election less than 45 days after a national election is wrong in so many ways. There are valid reasons for special elections but this is not one of them.

 

[Bamby]

Well the results are in on one of the special elections, and judging from the small amount of participants it appears as if the employees of the school board all voted in their best interests.

Wetzel Levy Passes
Special election has 10-percent turnout

NEW MARTINSVILLE - Wetzel County voters Friday renewed a levy that nets the school district about $5.68 million each year, but overall turnout for the special election was low.

The levy passed with a vote total of 1,016 to 333, and it will generate $28.4 million over the next five years.

A total of 1,349 residents cast ballots in Wetzel County, which has 12,777 registered voters. This represented a voter turnout of just 10.5 percent.

Wetzel County elections workers reported no problems with Friday's special election.

"We thank everyone for their continued support," said Linda Kirk, a member of the Wetzel County Schools Board of Education. "It's been over 50 years - they started the levy back in the 1960s when they consolidated the schools, and the people have supported it ever since. That's remarkable."

Wetzel County Schools Superintendent Diane Watt could not be reached for comment after the election Friday.

Under the levy, taxpayers will pay 22.95 cents per $100 of assessed value for Class I properties; 45.9 cents per $100 in value for Class II properties; and 91.8 cents per $100 in value for Class III and IV properties.

Wetzel County will spend the resulting funds in the following ways:

- $2 million for capital improvements and facility upgrades;

- $1.57 million for salary supplements and substitute costs;

- $700,000 for additional salary supplements;

- $260,000 for extra duty positions, including athletic coaches;

- $250,000 to provide employee dental and optical care;

- $100,000 for unfunded mandated positions;

- $300,000 for technology upgrades;

- $200,000 for equipment, supplies and books;

- $65,000 for academic and athletic trips;

- $20,000 for duplicating equipment;

- $100,000 for special services;

- $100,000 for new school buses; and

- $16,000 for library services.