| Calhoun citizen's are being asked to vote on a supplemental levy to support the county school system.
The Calhoun Board of Education says additional funds are needed to support programs and basic services, mostly because of a decline in students which is directly linked to the state's funding formula.
County School Superintendent Ron Blankenship is available to speak at any community group interested in hearing about the levy.
The school system has provided the following information about the levy:
WHAT WILL THE LEVY FUNDS BE USED FOR?
A. To provide funds for the employment of teachers and service personnel positions not funded by the State School Aid Formula, the sum of approximately $194,000.
State funding allows for a certain number of service personnel and teaching positions based on enrollment. The levy would allow the board of education to employ additional personnel, such as custodians, maintenance workers, and/or teachers.
B. To provide funds for curricular and extra curricular activities to include, transportation costs and supplements for athletic coaches, academic sponsors, band and choir directors, the sum of approximately $75,000.
The county does not receive state funding to cover the costs listed.
C. To provide funds to all schools for instructional materials, supplies, and equipment, including copiers, the sum of approximately $43,000.
The levy funds would allow the board to almost double the current amount provided to schools.
D. To provide support for the WVU Extension Service, the sum of approximately $5,000.
The current amount allotted to the Calhoun County WVU Extension Office is $2,000 per year, to support educational programs, including 4-H.
E. To provide funds to maintain all school facilities and to defray utility costs, the sum of approximately $94,609.
The board of education has experienced a significant increase in utility costs. The average annual cost over the last five years is $307,000, as compared to the annual cost of $167,000 in the 1997-98 school year.
OFFICIAL LEVY BALLOT
GENERAL ELECTION
CALHOUN COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
CALHOUN COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA
NOVEMBER 2, 2004
Election to authorize additional levies for the following years 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10 for the following purposes:
To provide funds for the employment of teachers and service personnel positions not funded
by the State School Aid Formula, the sum of approximately $194,000
To provide funds for curricular and extra curricular activities to include, transportation costs
and supplements for athletic coaches, academic sponsors, band and choir directors, the sum
of approximately $75,000
To provide funds to all schools for instructional materials, supplies, and equipment, including
copiers, the sum of approximately $43,000
To provide support for the WVU Extension Service, the sum of approximately $5,000
To provide funds to maintain all school facilities and to defray utility costs, the sum of approximately $94,609
The approximate amount necessary on an annual basis to carry out all of the above purposes, after making reasonable allowance for uncollected taxes is $411,609 and that the total amount necessary during the five year term of the levy is $2,058,045 or such amount as the proposed additional levy rates may produce when applied to annual assessed valuation of taxable property in the Calhoun County School District; and further, any additional money derived from an increase in levy funds shall be used for the purposes listed above, all according to the order of the Board of Education of the County of Calhoun entered the 23rd day of August, 2004.
The proposed additional rate of levy in cents on each class of property per $100 of assessed valuation shall be on Class I property 9.18 cents; on Class II property 18.36 cents; on Class III property 36.72 cents; and on Class IV property 36.72 cents.
The board of education will not issue bonds upon approval of the proposed increased levy.
INSTRUCTIONS TO VOTERS:
Those favoring the additional levies, place an "X" in the square before "FOR THE LEVIES".
Those against such levies, place an "X" in the square before "AGAINST THE LEVIES".
How much will the board's excess levies cost Calhoun County residents?
There is one excess levy on the November 2 general election ballot in Calhoun County. Approving it will mean the rates at which taxpayers have been paying in the past will increase. To figure out the impact of the excess levy on your taxes:
You must first determine the class of property you own.
According to the West Virginia Code
- Class I property is defined as all tangible personal property employed in agriculture and all intangible personal property including notes, bonds, stocks and accounts receivable.
- Class II property is defined as all residential property occupied by the owner, including all farms and land used for horticulture and grazing.
- Class III and IV properties are defined as occupied business property and residential property not occupied by the owner. The only difference between the two is Class III property is located outside of a municipality, while Class IV property is located in a municipality.
* The next step is to determine the assessed value of your property. The assessed value is 60 percent of the property's market value.
For example, if you own and live in a $40,000 home, which is a Class II property, multiply $40,000 by 0.6. The assessed value is $24,000.
* Once you know the assessed value and class of your property, you multiply it by the rate for the excess levy.
If approved, the taxes will be levied as follows: Class I - 9.18 cents, Class II - 18.36 cents, Class III & IV - 36.72 cents.
The levy rates apply to every $100 of assessed property.
⢠Using the same example above, here is the formula for how much the school board's levy costs you if you own a $40,000 home: $40,000 x 0.6 = $24,000/100 = $240 x 0.1836 = $44.06
TAXPAYERS OVER AGE 65 RECEIVE A $20,000 HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION
The same home, valued at $40,000 with the homestead exemption would only be assessed at $4,000, the calculation of the tax increase would be: ($40,000 - $20,000) X 0.6 = $4,000/100 = $40 X 0.1836 = $7.34
| 
