Citizens support schools, fire depts.; Hard work pays off

May 16—Thumbs up to Raleigh and Wyoming county voters for again passing their school excess levies.

In Wyoming County, the excess levy passed by an overwhelming margin; 2,768 (81.29%) voted in favor of the levy, while 637 (18.71%) voted against it in the unofficial returns. The vote canvass is scheduled for Monday.

The margin was significant in Raleigh County, too, where nearly 73% of voters approved the measure and 27% opposed.

In Wyoming County the levy is known as the "textbook levy," and it was approved in 2019 with a 96 percent passage rate.

Added to the regular tax levy residents pay on personal property, the school levy has been approved by county voters since 1927. The rates will remain the same as before, so taxes will not increase.

The excess levy in Wyoming County funds educational services to children, such as print and electronic textbooks and consumable workbooks and other instructional materials and extra personnel not funded in the state school aid formula, which allows for smaller class sizes.

Additionally, in Wyoming County, the excess levy provides a free computer device for every student to use; safety equipment that could potentially keep students safe in an emergency in every school; safety equipment on school buses; cleaner buildings through the utilization of extra service personnel; additional counselors who serve children in every school; protection resource officers (PRO) at both high schools who also serve feeder schools as needed; athletic coaches' salaries in order to provide children with a variety of athletic options at each school; and academic fairs and extracurricular experiences for learning enrichment and social growth.

Despite the extra cost added to property owners' taxes each year, Wyoming County voters have repeatedly shown the value they place on educating our children.

So, too, in Raleigh County where the levy helps cover, in part, teacher salaries and benefits, textbooks, athletics and construction projects. It has been in place since 1941. Similar to Wyoming County, the Raleigh County levy rates are the same as in previous years and will not raise property taxes. They will run for five years beginning July 1, and are estimated to generate around $22.8 million annually.

It is unfortunate that school districts have to turn to levies for financial support that is lacking from the state Legislature. Such a situation creates inequities from one district to the next. While some school districts, like Wyoming and Raleigh, had the support of citizens to provide for some basics for the kids, other districts were not as fortunate. Of seven school levies and bonds that were on the ballot in counties in north central West Virginia on Tuesday, four failed.

Closer to home, Nicholas County's levy got more than half the vote, but not the needed 60%.

----Speaking of levies, thumbs up to Raleigh County for passing a fire levy that is projected to generate a total of $3.5 million a year and will go toward the county's 14 fire departments — 13 volunteer fire departments and the Beckley Fire Department.

For volunteer fire departments around the county, the fire levy is a major source of funding.

Levy funds can go toward new fire trucks, equipment, building maintenance, training, utilities, insurance and other essentials spelled out in the levy.

----It is said that good things come to people who wait. We would suggest that hard work pays off, too. Such was the case for Beckley mayoral candidate Ryan Neal, who may have surprised more than a few on his way to a resounding win on Tuesday night, but he sensed something was astir.

Speaking with The Register-Herald after the votes from the final precincts had been counted showing him with 1,485 votes, more than 500 votes clear of his nearest competitor, Neal said he was "cautiously optimistic" that the votes would go his way.

"I worked hard," he said. "I probably had more signs out than probably all the other candidates combined."

We believe he'll need more elbow grease in the months and years ahead to keep Beckley moving forward. While the current council has voted to change its form of government from strong mayor to a city manager administration, Neal says, regardless, he's ready to take on the position of Beckley's mayor in whatever form it takes.

"The city manager, if we go to that, I'll support him 100 percent. What I would do is be the voice of the people. I'll talk to the people. I'll find out what's important to them. I'll pass that message on along to city council and to the city manager, and I'll hold their feet to the fire to make sure those things are getting done."

We'll be watching, mayor.

For now, congratulations on running a winning campaign — and here's a thumbs up for your hard work.

By Mary Catherine Brooks of The Wyoming County Report and J. Damon Cain, editor of The Register-Herald.