By Patrick Hurston
The Tues., May 12 primary saw Hardy County voters reject a proposed five-year school levy, dealing a significant setback to school officials who warned the measure was necessary to preserve staffing levels, student support services, and academic programs amid rising costs and lagging state funding.
The levy failed 63 percent to 37 percent. That broke down to 1,533 votes cast against the levy and 897 votes in favor, falling well short of the simple majority required for passage.
According to the Hardy County Clerk’s office, a total of 2,735 ballots were cast during Tuesday’s primary, but only 2,430 on the levy question, meaning 305 voters who participated in the election declined to vote on the levy question altogether. Even if all 305 non-votes had been cast in favor of the measure, the levy still would not have reached the threshold necessary for approval.
The result also placed Hardy County in the minority statewide. Presently, 44 of West Virginia’s 55 counties have existing levies in place. Ten counties had school levies on Tuesday’s ballot, reflecting the state legislature’s inaction on addressing the school funding formula, not updated since 1993. Seven counties passed their respective levy.
Hardy County was one of only three where voters rejected the measure.
The levy would have generated an estimated $2.5 million annually over five years to support the schools. School officials and Levy Committee members argued the funding was intended less for expansion than stabilization, citing declining enrollment and increased student needs.
Throughout the campaign, supporters warned that failure of the levy would likely trigger personnel reductions and cuts to programs beginning with the 2027-28 school year.
Positions identified as potentially vulnerable included social workers, interventionists, assistant principals, and certain career and technical education offerings.
In a statement provided following Tuesday’s vote, School Superintendent Sheena Van Meter acknowledged difficult decisions now lie ahead for the school system.
“Hardy County Schools will certainly have hard times ahead due to the failure of the excess levy,” she said. “One of our goals in educating, the public was to make It clear as to what would be happen if the levy did not pass. We will begin the necessary steps to eliminate positions in order to stay within the state’s funding formula.”
Van Meter said the county’s personnel season begins each January and includes notification to employees whose positions may be eliminated for the following school year. She said the reductions could affect “a variety of positions across the county.”
Despite the outcome, Van Meter indicated the Board of Education may revisit the issue later this year.
“The Hardy County Board of Education does plan to revisit the levy order and determine if making adjustments and adding it back to the ballot in November would be in the best interest of Hardy County Schools,” she said. “Our goal would certainly be to provide a levy order that the whole community could get behind and vote in favor of.” Van Meter went so far as to say, “If anyone has any suggestions or would be willing to share feedback, please reach out to me directly at srvanmet@k12.wv.us.”
During a series of public meetings leading up to the election, officials emphasized that Hardy County is one of only 11 counties in West Virginia operating without an excess levy. They also argued the county faces unique financial pressures due to high percentages of special education students and English language learners; costs they say are not adequately reflected in the state aid formula.
The proposed levy included funding for employment retention, academic intervention programs, employee compensation supplements, facility maintenance, and free admission to athletic events for county residents.
Supporters at times framed the issue as a choice between paying temporarily increased property taxes or accepting another round of reductions within the school system.
Opponents, however, questioned both the timing and long-term sustainability of the request amid broader economic pressures facing county residents.
For now, the defeat leaves Hardy County Schools facing the very scenario administrators spent months warning could occur without additional local funding.
