Title: Cabell County School Excess Levy Threatens Library and Recreation District with Possible Funding Cuts
Cabell County, WV – The Cabell County Library and the Greater Huntington Park and Recreation District are facing the looming possibility of funding cuts due to the potential elimination of the Cabell County School Excess Levy. These organizations heavily rely on the levy for financial support, making the proposed cuts a cause for concern.
Cabell County Schools Superintendent, Ryan Saxe, acknowledged the difficult decision at hand: It’s a challenging decision, but it’s one that we’re going to have to make so that we can bring the best levy possible to the voters to say, ‘Here’s what we feel we need in order to make Cabell County School System the best in the state moving on to 2030.’
The current school excess levy provides the Cabell County Public Library with approximately $1.7 million annually, accounting for a significant portion of their $4 million budget. However, under the proposed levy, the library would only receive around $195,000. This substantial reduction in funding would make it impossible for the library to operate all eight branches.
Kristy Browning, the library’s business manager, expressed her concerns about the severe consequences of the proposed cuts: We’ve come to depend on that funding, and this has been consistent funding for 50 years. If this went through, we would see library closures, staff reductions; it would be catastrophic for the county.
The Greater Huntington Park and Recreation District, currently receiving $550,000, would face a complete loss of funding if the proposed cuts are approved. Kathy McKenna, the executive director of the district, shared her dismay: It made me sick to just think of what that impact would have on our budget and where we would have to start looking at making cuts and how we would go about replacing that funding.
Superintendent Saxe highlighted the financial pressure the district is facing, citing increased inflationary costs and decreased state funding due to declining enrollment. As a result, even other areas, such as outdoor learning spaces, facility maintenance, and employee salaries, have been affected, further exacerbating the challenges.
The Cabell County Board of Education is scheduled to convene on Tuesday to vote on the excess levy budget. If approved, the public will have the opportunity to vote on it in May. However, in the event that the cuts proceed, McKenna mentioned the possibility of legal action: We feel this money is owed to us. It’s legislated in an active legislative in 1983, and we’ve been receiving these funds since then without any question.
In light of these developments, all Cabell County Public Library locations will be closed on Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. so that staff members can attend the board meeting to voice their concerns.
The decision ahead poses a challenging dilemma for all parties involved, highlighting the need to strike a balance between funding the school system adequately and ensuring that crucial community organizations like the library and recreation district continue to thrive. As the fate of the Cabell County School Excess Levy hangs in the balance, it remains crucial to find a solution that serves the best interests of the schools, residents, and the wider community.
