MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Concerns over a decline in revenues for the fiscal year 2025-2026 budget have led the Monongalia County Board of Education to begin preliminary discussions on the 2026 excess levy vote.
In the closing portion of the meeting where the approximately $176.3 million FY25-26 budget was adopted by the BOE in a unanimous vote, Monongalia County Schools Treasurer Nicole Kemper took part in an overview of the Monongalia County Schools Excess Levy and its over $35.6 million contribution to the school system for the upcoming fiscal year. After the FY25-26 budget that showed a projected decline of around $8 million in tax revenues was formally adopted by the BOE during their regular meeting Tuesday, Kemper detailed the crucial aspects of the excess levy that plays a part in close to twenty percent of the fiscal year general operating budget.
“For fiscal year 25-26, $35.6 million is projected for net taxes to be collected, and that represents twenty percent of our current operating budget,” said Kemper on the importance of the county excess levy.
According to Kemper, the majority of the $35.6 million excess levy goes towards professional services and supplemental pay for staff and teachers, totaling around $20.4 million. Just over $2.5 million is used to support facility improvements and maintenance, while approximately two $1.5 million allocations support instructional materials and technology-based supplies. Among the programs those funds support are alternative education programs and the hiring of school safety officers.
“Students support community schools, after-school programs, summer programs, law enforcement, alternative education, and health services,” said Kemper, listing some of the aspects of the Monongalia County School System directly supported by the levy.
The Monongalia County Schools Excess Levy not only supports staffing pay and learning materials in the classroom but also the majority of the extracurricular programming that takes place during the school year. According to Kemper, this includes approximately $1.25 million used to support athletic programming and transportation for all three county high schools as well as education-based activities for elementary and middle schoolers. This also supports any equipment and facility maintenance of athletic programs not supported by booster organizations.
“Recreation programs, athletics, academic programs, in-services, upgrades to athletic facilities and playgrounds,” said Kemper on more excess levy-supported programs that could be affected by a failed levy vote.
According to Kemper and other Monongalia County School administrators, the passing of the county schools’ excess levy has been considered more and more crucial with tax revenues expected to decline for FY 25-26. This was seconded by members of the Mon County BOE, who brought out examples of after-school programming that was affected by the $8 million decline in revenues despite receiving several million dollars in state aid. Despite the county excess levy being a near mainstay in the community (voters have approved such a levy over the past 53 years), the Mon County BOE has begun to emphasize the importance of the levy vote, with several popular programs potentially on the chopping block starting next year pending passage.
“This year’s budget shows how important the levy is that’s coming up for a vote next year,” said Christina Fattore Morgan. “The fact that Summer Avalanche is not being covered in this budget just goes to show that if you want these educational opportunities in Mon County, you will need to support the levy.”
A simple majority vote is needed for the FY 2026-27 levy to pass during the May 2025 primary election.