Vote No to More Taxes; Against the Levy

Download the Excess Levy Fact Sheet

Just the surplus from the Excess Levy this past fiscal year covered all teaching and service personnel not covered by state funding, plus the teachers’ levy bonus. Where did the other $17 million plus designated for salaries go? Read the editorial.

The Jefferson County Schools Excess Levy, named simply “The Levy” on the November 5th, 2024 ballot is:

  • Currently 39.2% of property tax in Jefferson County, West Virginia.

The current School Excess Levy was voted in on November 3, 2020 and runs from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2026 and raises at least $22,412,937 per year, or $2720 per student EXTRA!.

Now the Jefferson County Board of Education wants us to pay $25,427,656 per year for the next School Excess Levy, which, if not defeated on November 5, 2024, will take effect from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2031.

74% of High School students are not proficient in math
38% are not proficient in reading
61% are not proficient in science

51% of Middle School students are not proficient in reading

56% of Elementary students are not proficient in reading

44 Central office staff for 8239 students or one for every 187 students

Kanawha Conunty has 47 Central office staff for 25,373 students or one for every 540 students!

  • The accounting for what our tax dollars are spent on is very opaque.  I believe in the necessity of transparency, honesty and accountability on the part of our Board of Education.
  • Since the Board of Education cannot detail clearly where our tax dollars have gone, the next
    Excess Levy should not be approved. 
  • On average, West Virginia spends $15,360 per student for K-12 Education. State funds, not local property taxes, account for about 56% of this amount. Federal Funds account for about 12%. About 30%, on average, is derived from local property taxes. All property owners already pay property taxes that are spent by the Board of Education, listed on your tax bill as “School”.

Tax Breakdown per $1000
of Property Tax:

Sample Property Example:  Vacant Parcel 04 13K0087 in Westridge Hills.  Property 2024
Assessed Value $18,667 , a 133%
 increase from  2023.  The 2024 Excess Levy is $100 for a small 0.28 acre vacant parcel.

  2023 Tax-Sample2024 Tax-Sample
State$9$0.48$1.09
County Current$225$25.03$57.78
School Current$330$37.23$84.60
School Per Improve.$45$5.29$11.69
School Excess Levy$391$44.03$100.02
Total$1000112.14$255.22

Vote “AGAINST THE LEVY” on November 5th

More News About Excess Levies in West Virginia:

  • The reason I sent this letter to all five Board of Education members and Superintendent Chuck Bishop on September 12th 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. No answer has been received yet
  • 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. On the ballot Nov. 5, 2024, vote “AGAINST THE LEVY“.

As of the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023 and ending June 30, 2024, the following now applies:

(f) As soon as is practicable following the close of the fiscal year, but no later than 90 days after the end of the fiscal year, a copy of the published statement herein required shall be filed by the county board with the State Auditor and with the state superintendent of free schools.

(g) The county board shall transmit to any resident of the county requesting the same a copy of the published statement for the fiscal year designated, supplemented by a list of the names of all school personnel employed by the board during such fiscal year showing the amount paid to each, and a list of the names of each firm, corporation, and person who received less than $250 from any fund during such fiscal year showing the amount paid to each and the purpose for which paid.

(h) The changes made by the amendments to this section enacted during the regular session of the Legislature, 2021, shall be effective for financial statements for the fiscal year commencing on July 1, 2023.

WV Code § 18-9-3a (2023)

I have requested the above information as of September 20, 2024.

Levies fail in more that half of the concerned counties

Jefferson County Schools Do Not Meet All State Efficiency Standards

More Money and More Administrators Are Not Helping Fairfax County Public Schools