ELKINS — There will be no increase on city property tax rates for Fiscal Year) 2027, according to the levy laid by Elkins City Council.

During the most recent council meeting, the nine present council members voted to approve the proposed levy order and rate sheet, formally “laying the levy” for FY 2027. Third Ward council member Christopher Lowther was not present.

Under West Virginia law, municipalities must lay the levy annually on the third Tuesday in April. By annually laying the levy, West Virginia municipalities establish levy rates for each property class, apply those rates to the certified assessed values provided by County Assessors and produce the official property tax revenue estimate for the fiscal year.

According to the council’s agenda item report, the FY 2027 levy does not increase the city’s property tax rates and “maintains the City’s existing levy structure.” The unchanged property tax rates for Elkins are Class I property is 12.50 cents per $100 of assessed value, Class II, including residential and farm property, is 25.00 cents per $100 of assessed value and Class IV, including commercial and industrial property, is 50.00 cents per $100 of assessed value.

The approved levy order and rate sheet also establishes that the City’s total projected property tax collections for FY 2027 is approximately $1.33 million, “after standard adjustments.” The net amount available for budget purposes for FY 2027 is approximately $1.30 million. These projections reflect what was laid out in the City of Elkins FY 2027 general budget, which the City Council approved in March. According to the FY 2027 general budget, property taxes are listed as one of the city’s three highest budgeted revenues with a total of $1,301,559.

Before the council voted to lay the levy, Fourth Ward council member Andrew Carroll asked Elkins City Treasurer Tracy Judy to explain how much of the City’s budget comes from the assessed value of property taxes. Judy explained that it made up roughly 30% of the budget.

“Unfortunately, the general fund is made up majority of taxes and our three big tax bases are the county taxes, the B&O (Business and Occupation) tax and the sales tax,” Judy said. “Without any one of those, it would be a huge hit to the City and the services that could be offered.”

Judy went on to explain that, when the City gets the property paperwork from the County, it includes the amounts and the rates, and that, without the City having an additional bond, those are the rates that are set forth.

“In my time with the City since 2011, the City has never gone for another bond because that would be an increase as well,” Judy said. “So we really try to work within what monies we have.”

The Elkins City Council will meet again on May 7 at 7 p.m. at the Phil Gainer Community Center.