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Upshur Commission proposing levies, brunch bill

BUCKHANNON — Two excess levies and a brunch bill will appear on the General Election ballot in Upshur County this November.

The two excess levies will generate funding for the Upshur County Public Library and Buckhannon Upshur Parks and Recreation, both of which have been cause for budgetary concern, according to information provided by County Administrator Carrie Wallace.

The brunch bill will allow the dispensing of nonintoxicating beer, wine or alcoholic liquors in or on premises in the county beginning at 10 a.m. on any Sunday.

The Upshur County Public Library excess levy would generate $46,548 in annual income to support the library located at 1150 West Virginia 20 South in Tennerton.

The library’s funding from local and state governments has decreased substantially this year, according to information provided by Wallace. On the county level, the library will receive 47 percent less in Fiscal Year 2017 compared to Fiscal Year 2014, which amounts to a $32,500 budget cut, she said.

“Historically, contributions in excess of the required donation for the library were taken from the Coal Severance Fund,” Wallace said in a released statement.

However, decreased revenue projections for that budget required the Upshur County Commission to substantially decrease contributions to outside agencies, including eliminating the additional contribution to the library in 2017.

Personal property without the Homestead Exemption appraised at $100,000 would be assessed at 60 percent for tax purposes, leaving a $60,000 taxable value. Based on a rate of .0028 cents per $100, the levy would result in a tax increase of $1.68 a year real property. The increase would be 50 cents for personal property without the Homestead Exemption, for a combined total of $2.18 a year on real and personal property.

The total tax increase on real and personal property with the Homestead Exemption would be $1.62 a year, $1.12 for real property and 50 cents for personal property.

The proposed parks and recreation excess levy would generate $119,695 in annual income for the Buckhannon Upshur Parks and Recreation Facility, located at 100 BU Drive in Tennerton.

In 1979, the Commission at the time was awarded a $1 million federal grant from the Land and Water Conservation Fund to construct the Buckhannon Upshur Parks and Recreation Facility, including the Catherine “Splash” Williams Pool. A stipulation in the grant prevents the property from being used for anything other than outdoor recreation.

Parks and Recreation expenses were $102,274 in Fiscal Year 2015 and $115,741 in Fiscal Year 2016. According to information provided by Wallace, the Commission has been mindful of budgetary concerns and addressed them by increasing admissions and eliminating the concession stand in Fiscal Year 2015. With further financial struggles in 2016, the Commission increased the cost of admission, pool parties and swim lessons and decreased the number of lifeguards on shift, while continuing to meet state requirements.

“The state minimum wage requirements caused an increase during Fiscal Year 2015 and Fiscal Year 2016, and the six-digit expenditure continues to be a major budgetary concern. If the excess levy fails, hours of operation must be reviewed and adjusted,” Wallace said.

As with the library levy, personal property appraised at $100,000 would be assessed at 60 percent for tax purposes, leaving a $60,000 taxable value.

At a rate of .0072 cents per $100, the levy would generate a tax increase of $4.32 on real property and $1.30 on personal property without the Homestead Exemption for a combined total of $5.62.

With the Homestead Exemption, it would generate $2.88 on real property and $1.30 on personal property for a total of $4.18.

An excess levy must receive 60 percent approval in order to pass.

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