Early voting for the general election is already underway with Election Day scheduled for Tuesday, November 8.

This year, Hancock County residents, including Weir employees and senior students who are registered, will vote on three issues that could critically impact Hancock County Schools and the state’s public education in general: the Hancock County Schools Excess Levy, Amendment 2, and Amendment 4.

Before heading to the ballot box, here’s a breakdown of the issues:

The HCS Excess Levy
Locally, the Hancock County Schools’ excess levy is up for renewal. This levy has been in effectfor 75 years since the 1940s and has never been voted down. The levy, last approved by voters in 2018, would last for five years beginning July 1, 2024 and bring in $8,644,774, according to Joe Campinelli, chief financial officer of Hancock County Schools.

Because it is a renewal, it will not add new or additional taxes; it will simply continue the existing taxes. The levy provides funds to the school in addition to regular funding. On this year’s ballot, the levy proposes that funding go towards free school lunches, counseling and therapy services, maintenance, CTE classes, and staff and coach salaries. If the levy does not pass, those services and more will be cut. It also proposes cuts toward technology, safety measures, and medical services, because the state now provides some funding towards them.

State Amendment 2
Amendment 2 is the Property Tax Modernization Amendment. If passed, it would give state legislature control over 27% of funds brought in through personal property tax.

According to Ballotpedia, in 2018, the revenue from these taxes generated $523.9 million – 65.3% was allocated to schools, 27.2% was allocated to counties, 7.1% was allocated to municipalities, and 0.4% was allocated to municipalities.

The amendment would revise Article X of the West Virginia Constitution to exempt tangible personal property (machinery, equipment, and inventory) used for business activity and personal property tax on motor vehicles from ad valorem property taxes.

Currently, the state constitution exempts “property used for educational, literary, scientific, religious or charitable purposes, all cemeteries, public property, the personal property, including livestock, employed exclusively in agriculture as above defined and the products of agriculture as so defined while owned by the producers” from taxation.

Supporters of Amendment 2 say that eliminating taxes on personal vehicles, equipment, technology, and inventory will help families and grow the state’s economy.

On the other hand, opponents worry that there is not a plan to replace the lost revenue and that eliminating these property taxes would cause a loss of over $340 million that funds local public education as well as many other public services. Schools, fire and police departments, libraries, parks, and other publicly funded organizations would bear the weight of these tax cuts. For schools, these cuts in funding would result in pay cuts and layoffs for teachers and other staff as well as a loss of instructional materials and supplies.

A “yes” vote supports amending the West Virginia Constitution to authorize the state legislature to exempt personal property (machinery, equipment, and inventory) used for business activity and personal motor vehicle property tax from ad valorem property taxes.

A “no” vote opposes amending the West Virginia Constitution to authorize the state legislature to exempt personal property (machinery, equipment, and inventory) used for business activity and personal motor vehicle property tax from ad valorem property taxes.

State Amendment 4
Amendment 4, the Education Accountability Amendment, proposes that the WV Department of Education be added to this law. Legislature then has the power to change or reject the policies. According to Ballotpedia, West Virginia’s constitution currently states “the general supervision of the free schools of the State shall be vested in the West Virginia board of education.” And the board shall perform “such duties as may be prescribed by law.”

This amendment would add that the board’s authority over general supervision of publiceducation is subject to a requirement that its rules and policies must be submitted to the legislature for review and approval, amendment, or rejection according to a process determined by the legislature by law.

Teacher training, student discipline, and curriculum would all be in the hands of the state legislature if Amendment 4 passes.

One argument for the amendment is that education is a crucial part of children’s lives and should be monitored.

Opposers of the amendment are worried that state legislators with no background in education and no knowledge of local dynamics could abuse their power and restrict the freedom of local boards of education and teachers to make the best decisions for their students.

A “yes” vote supports requiring the State Board of Education to submit its rules or policies to the legislature to approve, amend, or repeal.

A “no” vote opposes this amendment to require the State Board of Education to submit its rules and policies to the legislature to approve, amend, or reject.

Regardless of where voters stand on these issues, the results of this election will significantly impact West Virginia’s schools.