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Barbour County votes down school levy

PHILIPPI — Voters in Barbour County turned down a three-year, $330,574-per-year school levy in a close race Tuesday.

The levy failed with 2,304 votes in opposition, 50.77 percent, and 2,234 votes in favor, 49.23 percent.

The levy was designed to provide instructional materials, support for music and art programs, funding for education travel, support for vocational programs and “security equipment” within the county, according to a sample ballot provided by the West Virginia Secretary of State’s office.

The sample ballot states $90,000 of the levy’s total funds would have been dedicated to providing “security” and security equipment for faculty, staff and student safety in Barbour County Schools; this was to include, but not be limited to, school resource officers, video surveillance equipment, automated and monitored security monitoring devices and services.

Funds, in the amount of $128,000 of the levy’s total funding, would have been provided for instructional materials for students, classrooms, libraries and teachers. This would have included, but not be limited to, supplemental books, workbooks, computer software, library materials, supplies, equipment and classroom desks, chairs and other furniture and other instructional materials, according to the sample ballot.

Furthermore, $35,000 of the levy’s total funds were designed to be set aside to provide support for the music and arts programs within the county school system; this was to include, but not be limited to, instruments, music, art supplies and equipment and upgrades to music and art facilities.

Funds, in the amount of $40,000 of the levy’s total funding, would have been set aside to provide “educational travel” for students — including, but, not limited to, both curricular and extracurricular trips.

Finally, $37,574 of the levy’s total funds were designed to provide support for the vocational programs at Philip Barbour High School; this would have included, but not be limited to, equipment, software, tools, technology and program specific requirements.

Results for other Barbour races are as follows:

• James “Jamie” Carpenter, Republican, from Belington defeated Cindy Hart, Democrat, from Belington, in the Barbour County Commission race.

Carpenter received 3,125 votes, 64.55 percent, while Hart received 1,514 votes, 30.90 percent.

• Incumbent Dave Sypolt, Republican, from Kingwood, garnered more votes than challenger Stephanie Zucker, Democrat, from Morgantown in the 14th State Senatorial District race in Barbour.

Sypolt received 3,125 votes, 64.55 percent, while Zucker received 1,716 votes, 35.45 percent.

Senate District 14 encompasses Barbour, Preston, Taylor, Tucker, Hardy and part of Grant, Mineral and Monongalia counties.

• In Barbour County, Chris Phillips, Republican, of Buckhannon, totaled more votes than Ed Larry, Democrat, from Philippi, for 47th Delegate District for the West Virginia House of Delegates.

Phillips received 2,952 votes, 59.78 percent, in Barbour County while Larry received 1,986 votes, 40.22 percent.

Delegate District 47 encompasses Barbour County and part of Tucker County.

• David B. McKinley, Republican, of Wheeling, received more support than Kendra Fershee, Democrat, of Morgantown, in Barbour County for the race for 1st Congressional District, U.S. House of Representatives.

McKinley received 3,418 votes, 70.23 percent, while Fershee received 1,449 votes, 29.77 percent.

The voter turnout for Barbour County was 50.55 percent. The voting results are considered “unofficial” until canvassing.

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