KEYSER — A grateful Mineral County Board of Education president expressed his appreciation to the voters of Mineral County Monday for passing Saturday’s school levy by such an overwhelming margin.
“Three out of four people apparently feel (the levy) is a needed extra and we appreciate that,” said president Terry LaRue of the levy results in which 1,802 voters cast their ballots for the levy, while only 522 voted against it.
“On behalf of the board, we would like to thank the public for their tremendous support.”
The election, held Saturday, had been postponed from the original date of Feb. 6 due to the record-breaking winter snowstorm which hit the area that weekend.
Voters going to the polls for the rescheduled election this past Saturday
were greeted by blue skies and 50-degree temperatures.
“Out of 32 precincts, we only had one to vote against the levy,” LaRue said, noting that voters in the Cross area had chosen to go against renewal of the levy.
According to LaRue, passage of the levy, which has been in existence since 1952, will afford the county “the opportunity to continue to provide services which would not be possible through the regular budget.”
With the almost $6 million raised each year through the levy, the board is able to provide textbooks, instructional materials and technology upgrades for the county's school children; and salaries, wages and benefits for professional, service and extracurricular personnel; as well as helping to maintain the school buses, buildings and grounds; and providing contributions to such outside agencies as the Mineral County Library system, Mineral County Health Department, Highland Arts Unlimited, WVU 4-H Extension, and Camp Minco.
Up for renewal every five years, the present levy has one year left. The levy just renewed by the voters will therefore continue until June 30, 2016.
Keyser, W.Va. —
