HUNTINGTON -- The Cabell County Board of Education on Tuesday will discuss putting the renewal of the current excess levy on the Nov. 4 general election ballot.
The current levy doesn't expire until June 30, 2010, and the vote would normally be in the spring of the previous year. But having the vote during the general election in November would save the school system money, Treasurer Jody Lucas said.
No action will be taken Tuesday, but "We felt it was something we should discuss because it's more expensive to run it by itself," he said.
The board meets at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 15, at the board offices at 2850 5th Ave., Huntington.
The excess levy, which voters have approved since 1954, has been in addition to a required regular levy issued by the state for school expenses.
"As far as I can remember, this county has had this excess levy, and the community has always supported it," Lucas said. "It's just getting an authorization to continue what we already have."
The last time voters approved it was May 2004, and the school system reported at the time that the levy made up 19.31 percent of the school system's unrestricted operating budget. That covers services that are not paid for through designated funds.
The levy that voters passed in 2004 became effective July 1, 2005, and should be in effect through June 2010.
Failure to pass the current levy would have meant a $15.4 million budget shortfall for the school system, beginning in the 2005-06 school year.
It covers staffing over and above what the state aid formula allows. The state only provides so much for staff positions, but the system often hires additional staff to maintain low student-teacher ratios.
The excess levy also covers pay supplements and benefits for employees, textbooks, supplies, computer technology, staff development and extracurricular bus trips. It covers bus drivers' drug and alcohol testing, and will cover the student drug testing program. It contributes to construction, repairs, maintenance, substitute costs and coaches' salaries. And a portion goes to the Cabell County Public Library system and the Greater Huntington Park and Recreation board.
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