KINGWOOD, W.Va. — The Preston County School System will receive a slight increase in revenues in comparison to neighboring counties.
The Preston County Board of Education approved general expense levy rates for Fiscal Year 2025-26 where the school systems is projected to receive approximately $9.91 million as part of state legislative allocations. The rates were approved as part of a 4-0 vote during a special meeting of the board where the rates will remain the same in comparison to Fiscal Year 2024-25, despite a just over $250,000 increase in revenues. Preston County Superintendent Brad Martin and board member Elizabeth Noss was unable to attend.
“The proposed levy rates is for fiscal year, beginning July 1st, 2025,” said Preston County Board of Education President Lucas Tatham. “The motion has been properly made to approve the proposed levy rates for the fiscal year beginning July 1st, and it has been seconded.”
Much like in the previous fiscal year, Class III and IV properties will be valued at 77.6 cents per $100 of assessed value, with Class II set at 38.80 cents and Class I set at 19.40 cents. The rates were determined on a state level as part of West Virginia State Code §11-8-6f which establishes funding for the school systems of all 55 counties. The rates now return to the West Virginia State Auditor’s Office for final approval.
“Class I is 19.40 cents, Class II is 38.80 (cents), Class III and IV is 77.6 (cents), this is for a general current expense levy of $9,915,814,” said Tatham.
Bond levy rates significantly lowered in comparison to FY 2024-25 despite a bond levy total difference of approximately $2,000. In the rates approved by the Preston County BOE, Class I bonds were categorized for 3.37 cents per $100 of value, Class II was set at 6.74 cents with Class III/IV set at 13.48 cents. This will total the bond levy value at approximately $3.539 million, all of which will have to be voted on by county voters to avoid any cuts in funding that are supported through levy funds.
“That’s all coming from the (Preston County) Assessor’s Office, those numbers aren’t ours, those a forwarded from them and we just apply it to the rates that come from the state,” said Preston County Schools Superintendent Secretary Kristin James
The Preston County School System will still need to make several adjustments alongside another attempt to pass a county school levy that was previously rejected by county voters in the 2024 General Election. This includes the continued process of closing Fellowsville Elementary School as well as transitioning the Rowlesburg School into an county alternative learning location while also making staffing adjustments in response to those efforts. With the Preston County School System continuing to work through budget tightening, efforts to process another county levy vote could be in the cards in the coming months.
“The proposed levy rates for the Fiscal Year 2025-26 are being presented for approval and authorization by the board in order to submit them to the State Board of Education and the State Auditor’s Office for approvals,” said Tatham.