The Greenbrier County Board of Education has approved a levy call to be placed before the voters on the primary election ballot on Tuesday, May 8. Continuation of the current 50 percent levy, which must be authorized by the voters every five years, provides funding for a number of educational services to Greenbrier County students.

In an effort to inform the public about the school levy, Greenbrier County Schools has scheduled two informational forums. The first forum will be held on Tuesday, Mar. 27 at 5:30 p.m. in the auditorium at Western Greenbrier Middle School. A second forum will be held on Thursday, Mar. 29 at 5:30 p.m. in the auditorium at Eastern Greenbrier Middle School.

The May levy proposal requests authorization to continue additional levies from July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2023 to provide funding for:

• School safety and security including but not limited to security services, equipment and related support services for students ($350,000);
• Instructional materials, technology and resources ($750,000);
• Continuation of art and music programs available to all students ($300,000);
• School allotments and supplies, including lab supplies ($750,000);
• Employment of necessary personnel outside the school aid formula to meet the needs of students and maintain employee benefits ($1,878,119);
• Capital improvements to school facilities, including repair and maintenance of buildings and utilities $1,700,000);
• Funds to facilitate extended year and extracurricular programs ($250,000).

The total approximate amount necessary to carry out these specific programs and services is $5,978,119 annually. Monies generated by continuation of the levy can be used only for expenditures specified on the ballot.

Forty-one of the other 54 county school boards in West Virginia have voter approved excess levies in place. Greenbrier County’s levy rate is 50 percent. Of the 41 levies in place, 36 are at or above the Greenbrier County rate.  Overall, Greenbrier County currently ranks 32nd among counties in local taxpayer contribution to education.

School levy information, including a copy of the levy ballot, is available at greenbriercountyschools.org under the “Quick Links” tab.