KINGWOOD — The Preston County Chamber of Commerce has endorsed the Preston County School levy.
The chamber board of directors voted on the matter, it said in an email last week.
The board wrote that, “The Preston County Chamber of Commerce recognizes the importance of this levy and the impact it will have on the business community and economic development in the county. Most county school systems in West Virginia operate with an excess levy. This levy will help ensure our students are afforded the same opportunities as students in other parts of the state and will be critical in terms of attracting new businesses and residents to Preston County.”
Voters will decide the five-year levy in a special Feb. 2 election.
The proposed levy includes annual expenditures of: General maintenance, $2 million; operational expenses, $700,000; safety and security, $250,000; hiring additional classroom teachers, $650,000; technology, $200,000; curricular, extra-curricular and co-curricular activities, $150,000; instructional supplies and materials, $200,000; after-school and virtual-school programs, $300,000; and community facility use, $50,000.
The deadline to register and be eligible to vote in the levy election is Jan. 14. Absentee ballots can be requested now. Early voting will be Jan. 18-19, 22-26 and 28-30.
Calculators to help voters determine how the levy would impact their tax bills are available at www.prestoncountyschools.com and on Facebook. Superintendent Steve Wotring will also be posting detailed information about how the money will be used.
