MORGANTOWN — According to Monongalia County Commission President Tom Bloom, the commission will break new ground during today’s 10 a.m. regular meeting when it considers placing a $5.2 million levy to fund BOPARC operations and maintenance on the November ballot.
The levy — presented by Friends of Green Belt — is one of two to be brought to the county that would provide funds for BOPARC, the city’s parks and recreation board, despite neither BOPARC nor the city acting in support. Both the city and BOPARC have actively chosen not to move levy discussions forward in recent weeks.
“I can say when talking with the state, they’ve never had a levy proposed by neither a governmental body or a nonprofit group, but by citizens, that wasn’t being supported by the groups,” Bloom said. “This is new territory.”
Bloom said the commission has letters in hand from both the city and BOPARC that will be read on the record during today’s consideration.
“We wanted that clarification of exactly where they stood before we make a decision,” Bloom said.
The levy will generate just over $1 million annually between 2019-2023 if it goes before the voters and receives the needed 60 percent support.
The levy would generate 1.16 cents for every $100 of Class II property (single family); and 2.32 cents on every $100 of Class III (rental in the county) and Class IV (rental inside a municipality).
The levy proposal has been altered substantially since originally presented, on Aug. 8. The original version was for about $9.4 million and included nearly $800,000 annually for the purchase of the Haymaker Forest.
Given the unconventional circumstances of the levy proposal, the commission requested and received guidance from Ora Ash, of the West Virginia’s Auditor’s Office.
When asked if the commission has the ability to deny a levy that meets all the required elements, Ash explained, “I am not aware of anything that requires the county commission to approve the request for an excess levy.”
Ash goes on to state, “I would assume anyone can propose an excess levy to the levying body (county commission) but it is up to the commission to determine what should be proposed to the citizens.”
He later notes, “Keep in mind that the levying body (county commission) is responsible for the proper use of excess levy funds.”
According to Bloom, the commission sees the placement of levies as a tremendous responsibility as it will ultimately be responsible for the people’s money.
“The county commission is responsible to look at the overall stability of the county and represent the entire county,” he said. “Say we approve a levy and the distributing entity doesn’t follow the law or there is some question or concern, it is the three county commissioners who will be responsible.”
A second levy, this one for $8.5 million over three years to build BOPARC a new year-round, multi-sheet ice rink, was also submitted. The commission asked for additional information and has yet to receive an updated version.
