I recently sent the following email to each of the five Jefferson County, WV Board of Education members and Superintendent Chuck Bishop, seeking details about how the Board of Education has spent our tax dollars. The current School Excess Levy was voted in by the voters of Jefferson County on November 3, 2020. It took effect on July 1, 2021, and extends until June 30, 2026. the amount stated hat has been raised each year is $22,412,937, or about $2582 for each of about 8682 students.
The reason I sent the letter below is that the accounting for what our tax dollars are spent on is very opaque. I believe in the necessity for transparency, honesty and accountability on the part of our Board of Education.
If the Board of Education cannot detail clearly where our tax dollars have gone and/or if they have wastefully spent our hard-earned tax dollars, then the next Excess Levy should not be approved. If you pay $1000 per year in property taxes, $400 goes toward the excess levy.
The next Excess Levy for July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2031 will appear on the ballot on November 5, 2024. The Board of Education is requesting the increased amount of $25,427,656 per year even though enrollment has declined and is projected to continue to decline.
Dear Superintendent Bishop and Board of Education Members:
Please provide answers to the following questions, in red about current Excess Levy spending so citizens can make informed choices about whether or not to support the request for an extension of this Excess Levy.
Please provide the actual amount spent for each lettered category below for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024 (July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024)
Additionally, please answer the questions numbered 1 through 4 below the text of the levy ballot measure.
A. Continue support of WVU Extension $30,000 Services (4-H in community and schools) Amount spent:
B. Continue support of Shepherdstown, $90,000 Harpers Ferry/Bolivar and South Jefferson public libraries Amount spent:
Jefferson County health Department (immunization support) $20,000
Jefferson County Parks and Rec (student and family health) $30,000
C. Continue to provide instructional support and technology hardware, software and infrastructure support for students. $1,5000,000 Amount spent
1.Amount received by each school
For each school, amount broken down by each category;
Instructional support and technology hardware, software and infrastructure support
D. Continue to provide safety tools and instructional materials to each Jefferson County School $1,314,180 Amount spent:
1. Amount received by each school
For each school a list of the safety materials and instructional materials purchased
E. Continue to provide professional development to increase programs, national certification & other teacher/service personnel benefits to recruit and retain highly qualified staff $1,814,179 Amount spent
List each professional development seminar by date, title and presenter(s)
Provide the cost of each professional development seminar
List and provide the cost of any other professional development materials or services purchased
H. Continue to provide salary assistance for teachers and service personnel not covered/required under the state formula (librarians, art teachers, music teachers, nurses, counselors, custodians, instructional assistants), stipends & extended contracts (coaches, band),
and substitutes. $17,412,937 Amount spent:
1. Please provide:
a. Total amount of excess levy funds paid librarians, art teachers, and music teachers and number of positions where the only funding is excess levy funding (no state funding)
b. Total amount of excess levy funds paid to custodians and number of positions where the only funding is excess levy funding (no state funding)
c. Total amount of excess levy funds paid to nurses and number of positions where the only funding is excess levy funding (no state funding)
d. Total amount of excess levy funds paid to counselors and number of positions where the only funding is excess levy funding (no state funding)
e. Total amount of excess levy funds paid to instructional assistants and number of positions where the only funding is excess levy funding (no state funding)
f. Total amount of excess levy funds paid to substitutes and number of positions where the only funding is excess levy funding (no state funding)
g. Total amount of excess levy funds paid to any position not listed above and name of each position and number of positions where the only funding is excess levy funding (no state funding)
h. Total amount of excess levy funds paid to central office staff where the only funding is excess levy funding (no state funding)
i. Total amount of excess levy funds paid to teachers who receive state funding, and number of positions, excluding extended contracts (coaches, band)
j. Total amount of excess levy funds paid for extended contracts, and number of positions
k. Total amount of excess levy funds paid to service personnel who receive state funding, and number of positions
l. Total amount of excess levy funds paid to central office staff who receive state funding and number of positions
m. Total amount of excess levy funds paid to non-central office administrative staff (Principals, schools secretaries, etc.) who receive state funding and number of positions
n. Total amount of excess levy funds paid to any position not listed above that receives state funding, and name of each position number of positions
2. Please provide, for the period July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024:
a. Total number of students enrolled
b. Total number of central office staff
c. Total number of teachers
d. Total number of service personnel
e. Total number of non-central office administrative staff (Principals, school secretary, etc.)
3. Provide the amount collected during the last fiscal year that exceeded the projected amount of $22,427,656. Provide a detailed breakdown of how the extra funds were spent, using the above categories and questions.
4. Did the Board of Education reduce the levy rate in any of the past three fiscal years (Excess Levy Ballot Item 3)?
If yes, what was the rate and what was the amount of reduction?
Sincerely,
Richard Urban