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ELKINS -- Just before Elkins City Council heard details about the Randolph County Schools proposed levy Thursday night, a town resident spoke in opposition to the levy.
More than 40 people were in attendance for Thursday's City Council meeting. Kelly Monk, of Tygart Court, read from a prepared statement during the meeting's public comment section.
"First, I just wanted to present some facts about the budget of Randolph County Schools," Monk said. "Current budgets, according to the state Auditor's Office, the city of Elkins is about $5.1 million; the (Randolph) County Commission about $10.2 million. Currently, the Randolph County Schools budget stands around $35.75 million."
Monk expressed anxiety about the cost of the levy to taxpayers. If approved by voters in March, an additional levy of 8.24 cents on Class I property, 16.48 cents on Class II property, 32.96 cents on Class III property and 32.96 cents on Class IV property will be assessed for every $100 assessed property valuation.
According to language in the proposed levy, $1 million would be used to make upgrades to facilities, including the installation of turf at Tygarts Valley Middle-High School football and baseball fields, turf and bleachers at Wimer Stadium, turf at the Elkins Middle School softball field and turf at the Elkins High School baseball and soccer fields.
Monk noted she had concerns about which facilities were chosen to be upgraded.
"Three of the five facilities fall within the city limits of Elkins," Monk said. "While you can argue whether turf fields are necessary or not, the main concern is logistics for me."
Monk closed by stating her desire that the debate over the levy proposal will remain civil.
"I hope our disagreements can be kept kind and cordial," Monk said, noting Americans need to be free to "express our differences, vote our preferences and convictions, and come together for alternative options."
Later in the meeting, Randolph County Schools Assistant Superintendent Debbie Schmidlen offered Elkins city officials details about the levy proposal, noting that informational meetings about the proposed levy will be offered at different sites within the county in the coming weeks. The dates and times of those meetings have not yet been announced.