Charleston, W.V.
Levi has provided funds to Cabel County Public Library since 1967 and Greater Huntington Park and Entertainment District Since 1983.
Last August, the school board voted to snatch funding. The Park district then filed a case against the school board. In November, a Cabel County Circuit Court judge ruled in favor of parks and libraries, resulting in the BOE appealed to the state Supreme Court.
The High Court heard oral arguments in Charleston on Tuesday.
Cabel County Bo Attorney Kenneth Web Junior told Justice Cabel and Lincoln is only two counties that are still fund levy for other institutions.
“That plan under similar security, those particular tasks are unconstitutional,” the web said in front of a packed court room.
Park district usually receives approximately $ 500,000 from additional levy each year while libraries receive around $ 1.5 million.
Voters were prepared to decide whether the five -year levy should be approved in the May 2024 election.
Superintendent of Cabel County Schools, Ryan Sachs, earlier stated that due to inflation, financial pressure, Kovid epidemic and less student enrollment are required due to lack of additional funds.
Sachs said in August 2023, “While we provide a lot of values and appreciation to what it is to provide to our beautiful parks and amazing library community, doing so at the cost of the school district’s budget is something that we should be able to prefer to our students and our classes.”
Saxe said that the school board wants to use levy funding to increase security.
Branna Bowen, Executive Director of the Cabel County Public Library, told Metronws after the BOE vote in August that he feared that some library branches would be closed due to lack of funding. GHPRD Executive Director Kathy McCaina also said that parks and library simply provide as much value as schools do.
Attorney Mark Williams for parks and libraries told Justice that he got this funding for years for a reason.
“The Board of Education has admitted that the funds provided to libraries and park boards do an important function for the educational system. Williams said that he has never taken any position in the matter, that somehow, they are required to provide funds for non-school purposes.
Williams said that it is important for voters to decide how to move forward.
“The state’s action is to give voters an opportunity to take decisions. This would be different if the Legislature passed a law stating that you would provide money to a certain amount of parks and libraries, ”he said.
The Supreme Court is expected to take a final decision by May.