WILLIAMSON – Mingo County voters will go to the polls Saturday, Jan. 17, to participate in a special election seeking authorization to continue this county’s additional school levy that has been in effect since 1964.

The order calling for the election was approved by Steven L. Paine, State Superintendent of Schools, acting on behalf of the Mingo County Board of Education.

The polling places will be the same as in the 2008 primary and general elections except for one change. County Clerk Jim Hatfield announced that No. 9 West Williamson precinct voters will go to the old Betsy Ross Bakery building to vote instead of the West Williamson Field-house.

Polls will open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m., with voter tabulations following in election headquarters in the basement of the Mingo County Court House. Absentee voting has been in progress in connection with the levy election.

Mingo County School Superintendent Dwight D. Dials has discussed the election and the purposes for which levy funds are needed. He said it is important that taxpayers approve the levy now so that arrangements can be in place when the current levy expires June 30.

Various organizations have endorsed the levy and urged citizens to vote for continuing the levy, but there are individuals expressing opposition to the levy for one reason or another.

According to the levy order, the total approximate amount needed to be raised for said purposes after allowance for discounts, delinquencies and exonerations is $7,681,093 ($7.6 million), and the total amount to be raised during the term of the five-year levy is approximately $38,405,465 ($38.4 million).

The proposed additional rate of the levy in cents on each class of property per $100 of valuation of such property is as follows: Class I, 22.95 cents; Class II, 45.90 cents; Class III, 91.80 cents, and Class IV, 91.80 cents.

However, the Mingo County Board of Education, if it determines that sufficient funds for school purposes exist for the school year, shall reduce the said levy rate in any given year or years during the five-year period of this levy in accordance with WV Code 18-9-6g.

Dials said “This is not an increase in taxes, “but the funds are necessary for many reasons.”

The levy is for the fiscal years July 1, 2009, July 1, 2010, July 1, 2011, July 1, 1012 and July 1, 2013, and for the purposes of the following:

Free textbooks, school and instructional equipment and instructional supplies for all students, $600,000; Support for additional educational opportunities, $200,000; Provide modern technological equipment and services to all schools, $300,000;

Support for band and choral activities, $75,593; support for academic competition, $60,000; support for public and school libraries, $200,000; expanded vocational programs, $120,000; instructional supplies and materials for classrooms, $75,500.

Support for health services, $80,000; support for compliance with safety standards and security, $300,000; Support for school repairs and renovations, $600,000; supplement employee benefits, $400,000; support for professional personnel, $2,300,000; support for service personnel, $1,565,000.

Supplement for unused personnel leave, $200,000; support for athletic and extracurricular activities, $150,000; support for county extension service, $30,000; salary support for supplemental or assignments, $300,000; classroom furniture upgrades, $100,000, and National Certification supplements, $25,000.

Those favoring the levy are to place an “X” in the square before the words “for the levy.” Those against the levy are to place an “X” in the square before the words “against the levy.”

Board Member Bill D. Duty has endeavored to delay the special levy election and called for an independent audit because he claims the board has sufficient funds for all purposes.

At the school board’s Jan. 6 meeting, he presented figures tended to show that the excess levy for the current year, 2008-2009, has been projected by the Office of School Finance to be $8,708,722. “The amount needed in this year to meet all of the needs of this levy is $5,748,811,” he said. “This leaves a difference of $2,959,911 not designated for use.”

Other board members have indicated they are not against the levy but have not presented any alternative proposal. Duty said even if a need for the levy could be justified, “would we need one for 100 percent for five years?”

Dr. J.W. Endicott, M.D., of Kermit, has been a member of the School Board for several years and deplores what he sees as a spread of misinformation concerning the election and its purposes.

Endicott recently stated that the levy is “not about ‘tough times’ and ‘saving taxpayers’ money’ but is about taking away services from Mingo students and salary supplements, and services from our school personnel, all in a lame attempt to prevent Mingo County from implementing the 2000-2010 CEFP or to build the new high school.”

Endicott stresses that any levy money left over after all of the call has been met, cannot be used for construction of the new school. “But here is the crux of the matter: if there was any money left over, it could be used to improve our existing schools.”