Hancock County schools would see a reduction in funding if a proposed Constitutional Amendment on the ballot passes in the November 8th General Election. The Board of Education met for a work session Tuesday evening to discuss the impact of the State Constitutional Amendment, reduction in students’ fees to attend events, the cost of attorneys contracted by the Board and to receive an update on construction projects.
The Constitutional Amendment will provide the Legislature with the authority to decide on exemptions for property tax on motor vehicles and business inventory and equipment in the upcoming 2023 Regular Session. According to the WV Center on Budget & Public Policy, the cost of the exemptions to schools, local and county government would be in excess of $500 million. According to Finance Director Joe Campinelli Hancock County would lose a total of $9.9 in funding while the School System would lose $3,283,000.00 in funding. The budget for Hancock County schools is $58 million.
The Board also discussed the School Board’s excess levy which will also be on the ballot in November.
Board President Chris Gillette said the elimination of admission fees for students attending events was proposed as a way to increase student involvement. Students’ attendance at sporting events was not allowed or limited during COVID and some games were streamed online. Knowing the positive aspects of getting students involved in school activities, the Board explored ways to encourage that attendance and has discussed not charging students to attend sporting events and/or other school events.
The end result of elimination of those fees, however, would cause a reduction in funding now available to the high schools and middle schools. The Board learned that student admittance fees generated $15,000.00 at Oak Glen High School and $8,000.00 at Oak Glen Middle. Petrovich said that Oak Glen had used innovative ways to encourage attendance at games. Athletes who are playing in season can get in free if they attend another sport’s game that is in season. (Football players attending soccer games.) Middle school athletes wearing the team’s jersey may attend high school games for free
Questions were posed as to who would be eligible for the free admissions: Would it extend to all events such as school plays, chorus, etc.? Would the two high schools honor the other school’s free admittance? Would students in Brooke or East Liverpool get free admittance to the games?
Currently the method of selling tickets to sporting events is not uniform throughout the county. Petrovich explained that those attending Weir High games are able to buy advance tickets online while Oak Glen fans only buy them at the gate. Tickets bought online are subject to $1 fee for the service.
The cost of legal services for the Board was also a topic of discussion. The County is currently represented by Dinsmore & Shohl as legal counsel. Petrovich explained to the Board that research on legal fees showed that use of the Hancock County Prosecutor’s Office was not free ranging from $15,000.00 in 1995. She explained that the cost of legal counsel achieved a high of $279,000.00 under a previous administration, but that legal costs during the past three years has amounted to $25,600.00, $29,800.00 and $33,500.00. The current legal firm charges for services as rendered. The Board did not discuss legal counsel being in attendance during the meetings.
The Board was also provided with an overview on past construction projects and an update on current construction projects.