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Financial matters, retiring employee before commissioners

Warren Scott APPROVED — The Brooke County Commission, Tuesday, approved levy rates for the 2021 fiscal year and recognized a retiring county courthouse staff member.

WELLSBURG — Just as many residents have been tending to their tax returns, the Brooke County Commission has been addressing its own financial matters.

Over the last several weeks, the commissioners prepared their budget for the 2021 fiscal year and on Tuesday, they approved levy rates presented by the county assessor’s office.

As with last year, the county’s base levy rates are 14.3 cents per $100 of assessed Class I property, which includes livestock and other property used in agriculture; and 28.6 cents per $100 for assessed Class II property, which includes homes and the property on which they sit.

The commissioners also approved a base levy rate of 57.2 cents per $100 of assessed Class III and IV property.

The latter two classes include all other property, including vehicles and that used by businesses other than farms. Class III is designated for those who live in municipalities, and Class IV is for those who live in unincorporated areas.

Taxes generated by county excess and school levies are based on the levy rates in place when they were approved and don’t change until their current term is up.

The assessed value of property, which is 60 percent of its appraised value, is multiplied by the rates to determine the tax paid by property owners.

Earlier the commissioners adopted a $9.6 million budget for the new fiscal year.

Commission President A.J. Thomas said though there were few changes from last year’s budget, but the total is lower because it doesn’t include $450,000 the commissioners had allocated for five sheriff’s deputies who served as resource officers in Brooke County schools.

The officers had been entirely funded by the Brooke County Board of Education. But after experiencing a shortfall in levy funds to support them, the board opted to hire its own officers at its own salary rates.

Asked about healthcare costs for county employees, Thomas said as a precaution, the commission usually budgets for a 10 percent increase each year though it may be less.

The county commission is among local governments who have learned they will receive a major windfall through the American Rescue Plan. It’s expected to receive about $4.25 million in pandemic relief funds, with U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., suggesting the money may be used for projects involving water and sewer lines and broadband Internet access.

Thomas said the commission awaits formal guidelines in spending the money and the National Association of County Officials has advised its members to be cautious in spending it.

He noted local governments are required to establish a separate account for the ARP funds, so the commission’s 2021 budget won’t reflect them anyway.

In other business:

– The commission recognized Debbie Keener, who is retiring after 19 years as a clerk in the county assessor’s office. Keener said she was blessed to have been hired by the county, as it came following her husband’s death, when she had no insurance and a daughter with special needs.

County Assessor Tom Oughton and fellow clerk Jody Pryor joined the commissioners in thanking Keener for her hard work over the years.

County Commissioner Tim Ennis said he and the other commissioners plan to formally recognize all of its retiring employees later this year.

– Christina White, director of the county’s emergency 911 center, thanked churches, businesses, the county prosecutor’s office, county commission and others who sent food or thank-you’s to the center’s staff recently in recognition of National Public Safety Telecommunications Week.

Thomas said dispatchers at the center encounter a lot of stress and their work is greatly appreciated.

White agreed, saying, “We always say, nobody calls us on our best day.”

– Ruby Greathouse, curator of the Brooke County Museum, noted next year marks the county’s 225th anniversary and suggested the commission consider whether it wants to observe the occasion in some way.

(Scott can be contacted at wscott@heraldtaronline.com)

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