Hancock County Voters Approve Tariffs | News, sports, jobs

NEW CUMBERLAND – Hancock County voters have given their blessing to two levies that will appear on their ballot as part of Tuesday’s election, both passing a bond levy for Hancock County Schools and renewing a longstanding surplus levy to support the Hancock County Sheltered Workshop.

According to unofficial results, the new bond levy to support security upgrades and other projects within Hancock County Schools received approval of 56.63% of the vote, with 6,902 votes in favor of the levy and 5,285 votes against.

“I am very grateful to the people of Hancock County,” Superintendent of Schools Dan Enich said.

The Hancock County Board of Education agreed in August to put the bond levy before county voters, with the goal of raising $10.65 million through the sale of bonds to pay for a variety of safety upgrades and other improvement projects within the county. school district funding.

“We are very excited,” Enich said. “We intend to make the school system a safer and better place.”

According to the tax call, for every $100 of assessed value, Class I property is taxed 3.82 cents, Class II 7.64 cents, Class III 15.28 cents and Class IV 15.28 cents.

Oak Glen High will receive $2,096,728 for gymnasium and theater improvements, visitor identification systems, security vestibule upgrades, security camera installations, weapon detection systems, cell phone boosters, lunch table replacements and upgrades to paving and parking lots, HVAC systems, elevator systems, signage, a storage building and fire alarm.

Weir High School will receive $2,150,352 for gymnasium and theater improvements, visitor identification systems, security camera installations, weapon detection systems, cell phone boosters, lunch table replacements and other pavement and parking improvements, HVAC, skylights, signage, storage buildings , fencing, guardrails and fire alarm systems.

The John D. Rockefeller IV Career Center will receive $1,296,422 for visitor identification systems, security camera installations, weapon detection systems, security vestibule upgrades, security gates, cell phone boosters, paving and parking lot improvements, elevators, signage, storage buildings and fire alarm systems. alarm systems.

Oak Glen Middle will receive $1,633,011 for gymnasium upgrades, security cameras, visitor identification systems, weapon detection systems, security vestibule upgrade, school pyrite remediation project, cell phone booster, lunch table replacement, paving and parking lots, HVAC, storage building and signage.

Weir Middle School will receive $1,173,417 for gymnasium improvements, theater improvements, security cameras, visitor identification systems, weapon detection systems, cell phone boosters, lunch table replacement, paving and parking, HVAC, signage and fire alarms.

AT Allison Elementary will receive $530,220 for a new playground, paving and parking improvements, security cameras, visitor identification systems, weapon detection system, cell phone booster, storage building and lunch table replacement.

New Manchester Elementary will receive $500,821 for a playground, paving and parking improvements, security cameras, visitor identification systems, weapon detection systems, cell phone boosters and lunch table replacement.

Weirton Elementary will receive $664,135 for a playground, an additional access road, paving and parking lot improvements, visitor identification systems, weapon detection systems, security cameras, cell phone boosters and lunch table replacement.

The Department of Transportation and Maintenance will receive $444,894 for a new salt shed, security cameras and paving.

The Sheltered Workshop levy, meanwhile, received support from 61.99% of the vote, with 7,645 votes cast in favor of the levy and 4,687 against the levy.

To remain in effect, the levy needed approval from at least 60% of the county’s votes on Tuesday.

The Hancock County Sheltered Workshop Levy was first approved by voters in Hancock County in 1992 and provides $250,000 per year to support Sheltered Workshop operations.

“The money goes towards transporting our customers to the workshop and home,” Michael Hagg, executive director of the Sheltered Workshop, explained this ahead of the election.

The Hancock County Sheltered Workshop, which opened in 1958, offers a variety of training and employment opportunities to individuals with disabilities, and operates a commercial laundry with tasks suitable for people with varying skill levels.

The Workshop also offers clients the opportunity to learn life skills and social interaction through events both at the Workshop and throughout the community.

The Hancock County Sheltered Workshop currently has 52 clients.

The levy applies for a period of four years, from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2029.

According to figures from the levy call, use tax rates are set at 0.69 cents per $100 of assessed value on Class I properties, 1.29 cents per $100 on Class II properties, and $2.58 cents per $100 on both Class III properties. and Class IV properties.

Any additional funds raised from the levy, above $250,000 per year, will be spent on parks and recreation within the Hancock County Parks System, according to language included in the levy.

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