Although they no longer have the authority to approve the school district’s budget, the Hancock County Board of Education was provided by a presentation of the 26-27 budget by Jeff Davis of Educational Consultants, LLC. Davis was hired by the Board of Education prior to the State’s taking over the County to reconcile the County’s finances.
The County’s $43.5 budget consists of local, state and federal revenue with $19.3 coming from local revenue, $29.3 from State revenue and $575,000 in federal funds with a negative $6.5 million carryover. The local share comes from property tax assessed on homes, cars, boats, etc. Business and industry also pay property tax, but the new industries coming to the county often do so with a deal forgiving taxes for a period of time as an incentive for locating in the county. There will be a loss of $5.2 million anticipated for property tax and $302,000 loss in levy revenue.
The State’s share of the budget is driven by the number of teachers allocated per student. Pupils in Hancock County Schools dropped not only due to out-migration, but the number of students opting to receive their education through charter schools, alternative schools and home schooling. The students may use the Hope Scholarship which now means the amount allocated to educate each child follows the student to their choice of educational provider. The budget includes $29.3 million in State revenue after the county laid-off off 130 teacher and school service personnel. A $1.1 million increase reflects the 3 % pay increase provided by the legislature. The Federal portion of the budget encompasses grants.
Davis and Superintendent Walt Saunders emphasized that the key is to live within the budget.
In other business:
**Winners of Golden Horseshoe were recognized;
**Project Search Graduation, a collaborative effort of Weir High and Weirton Medical Center West Virginia University was recognized for its effectiveness in preparing students for employment;
**Hancock County was the recipient of the WV Association of 4-H Youth Development Award’
**The Story Book Cafe’ received an excellence in after school programming;
**Recognized Dr. Denise Mirasola, principal of Weirton Elementary, and Kristina Rush, counselor at Oak Glen Middle School as Champions of Learning; and
**Heard achievement updates from Weirton Elementary School, Oak Glen Middle School, and Weir Middle School.
