School Bond Information Session - Presentation Recording
BCS November 8, 2022 Bond
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As the second largest and fastest growing school district in West Virginia, Berkeley County Schools (BCS) serves 19,679* students through 32 school locations. Due to the area's growth and increasing population, the district is facing substantial student enrollment growth. A 2021 study conducted by Business Information Services, LLC., projects Berkeley County Schools to add nearly 4000 students by 2031. (View this enrollment study located on this webpage within Additional Resources).The most recent school bond ($51.5 million) to address enrollment growth and capacity was approved by the voters in 2009. It will expire in 2025. This same bond was refunded and refinanced in 2020 to save interest costs.The proposed school bond of $124,490,000 is being placed on the November 8, 2022 general election ballot and proposes new construction, renovations, and additions as well as major repairs, replacements, updates, improvements and/or enhancements of current facilities that cannot be financed through an annual school district operating budget. If the bond passes, there is a potential for an additional $25,000,000 from the West Virginia School Building Authority. Click on the icons below to view projected projects.
"Providing a proper and adequate education of students to prepare them for gainful employment or further education" is stated within this bond order. The average school building age of Berkeley County Schools is 54 years, with eight schools reaching the 100-year mark by 2031. "Together with due regard for proper health and safety standards, make it necessary that the Board of Education acquire, enlarge, equip, extend, furnish, improve, construct and renovate certain school building and facilities" to protect the past, current, and future investments made by the Berkeley County community.
*Enrollment for 2021-2022 per WVDE ZoomWV
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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How are school bonds relevant to Berkeley County residents who do not have children enrolled in BCS?
School bond investments benefit everyone in Berkeley County in several ways:
1. School district facilities are used by the Berkeley County community, including evening and weekend programs run by the Martinsburg- Berkeley County Parks and Recreation programs; holiday, sports, and summer camps when schools are not in session; and a wide range of community, arts and other special events and meetings. The planned projects to be funded by the bond will increase the facilities available for use by the Berkeley County community.
2. The planned projects to be funded by the bond will create local jobs. School district capital improvement projects create local jobs as part of the Jobs Act. The Jobs Act requires that State funded public improvements, to which any project the School Building Authority (SBA) contribute funds exceeding $500,000 in cost, must hire 75% of their workers from the local labor market.
3. Finally, student performance driven by quality instructional facilities and programs may lead to increased property values and tax revenues. The planned projects will result in an investment in new facilities that will increase opportunities for students of Berkeley County Schools. Students graduating from high school and/or local technical centers gain industry specific credentials and they are poised to be higher income earners. The planned projects will increase this opportunity for students of Berkeley County schools. Students who are better prepared for college and careers may have a positive impact on both the quality of life in the community and local property values. Increasing the opportunity for students of Berkeley County schools with the planned projects will support an educated workforce which draws economic development, provides community jobs and growth opportunities, and therefore keeps housing values trending in a positive direction through supply and demand.
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How do school districts finance new school construction, renovations and additions?
One way new school construction, renovation and additions are financed is through a bond. You can think of it like a family getting a mortgage on a residence to spread the cost of home buying over a period of time. The cost of a bond is spread across the taxpayer community as well as those who will join the community after a bond is approved.
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How much enrollment growth is expected for Berkeley County Schools by 2031?
The official BCS enrollment as provided by the West Virginia Department of Education for 2021 was 19,679 PreK–12 students. Over the next decade, Berkeley County Schools PreK–12 student enrollment is estimated to grow by about 3800 students, reaching a projected enrollment of nearly 23,500 students.That is an increase of nearly 20%.
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How will the funding from the November 2022 School Bond help to address this projected growth in enrollment?
The November 2022 school bond is proposed to fund approximately 2000 student seats through the construction of two new elementary schools, 2 new pre K centers, 2 school remodels, and one school addition.
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I am hearing conversations about removing the personal property tax for WV citizens. If that would occur, will I still pay on school current bonds and levies?
Berkeley County residents who own real property within the County will still have a tax bill.
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If the November 2022 school bond is approved by the voters, will it overlap with any school bonds currently in place with BCS?
Yes, if the 2022 bond passes, taxpayers would pay on two bonds for 2 years. The school bond approved by Berkeley County voters in 2009 will overlap with the 2022 bond until May 2025 at which time the 2009 bond expires.
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If this bond passes on November 8, 2022, when will I see it on my tax bill?
If the bond passes it will be implemented with the tax bills after July 1, 2023.
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In addition to new school facilities and the addition, what other projects are projected to be funded from the November 2022 bond?
14 Safer school entrances, 35 updates and improvements to security, fire alarms, cameras, and intercoms, 12 major roof repairs and replacements, 4 fencing improvements, repairs, and additions, 9 major HVAC improvements and replacements, 5 plumbing and electrical improvements, 13 athletic facilities improvements and 2 fine arts improvements and enhancements.
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Is it possible that a taxpayer (Class I, II, III, & IV) may be taxed on more than one bond at a time?
Yes, as previously indicated, the CEFP is a ten-year plan and projects within these plans often overlap with previous and upcoming CEFP projects. When a district such as Berkeley County Schools experiences steady, on-going growth, the district must continually evaluate the demand for additional classroom space as well as major repairs, replacements, updates, improvements and/or enhancements of current facilities that cannot be financed through an annual school district operating budget.
Currently Berkeley County taxpayers are taxed on the school bond originally approved in 2009 which will expire in 2025. This bond was refunded and refinanced in 2020 to save interest costs. The cost of a bond, once approved, is spread across taxpayers (Classes I, II, III, & IV) in the community as well as those who join the community after the bond is passed.
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The November 2022 school bond is projected to fund projects in the next three years, but the Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan (CEFP) that is required by the WV Code for a school district is a 10-year plan. Is it possible other bonds may be needed to cover the costs of projects identified in the completed 10-year CEFP? What other projects are being planned for future bonds?
Yes, additional bonds may be needed to complete all projects identified in the CEFP. Projects in the FY 2020-2030 CEFP that are proposed for future school bonds include the following: Three new schools: North End Intermediate School, South End Intermediate School, South Berkeley area high school. Also projected are remodels to Hedgesville Middle School and Pikeside Learning Center and additions to South Middle School, as well as many facility maintenance repairs and upgrades to major operating equipment.
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Are school bonds unique to Berkeley County?
No. State laws vary with regard to school bonds, but bonds are common among school districts as a funding source to finance major expenditures of building, renovation, and maintenance of school facilities.
The tax implication of bonds on the voter varies based upon size of bond, bond rate, term, and real estate valuations in the county. For example, in the chart provided below, six WV school district bonds approved by voters are ranked by cost to taxpayer based upon $200,000 of appraised home value. The proposed Berkeley County bond (largest bond listed) ranks in the middle in terms of taxpayer cost ($14.50 monthly). To compare two counties with similar tax impact, take a look at Cabell and Roane Counties. An owner of a $200,000 home in Cabell County will pay $15.00 a month to help fund nearly $88 Million in school projects. In Roane County, the same homeowner would pay $15.00 a month for less than $10 Million in projects.
Bond Election Levy Rates $200,000 Appraised Value
($120,000 Assessed,
$100,000 Homestead)Monthly Tax County Bond Election Date Bond Par Total AV Debt/AV Bond Election Rate Term (years) Class 1 Class II Class III/IV Class II Class II (Homestead Exemption) Jefferson 11/3/20 $43,735,000 3,879,035,744 1.127% 5.00% 15.25 4.50 9.00 18.00 9.00 7.50 Wood 5/10/22 $60,850,000 3,929,361,258 1.549% 4.50% 15.75 5.44 10.88 21.76 10.88 9.07 Ohio 5/8/18 $42,200,000 2,511,311,839 1.680% 6.00% 15.5 5.90 11.80 23.60 11.80 9.83 Roane 11/6/18 $9,745,000 513,736,979 1.897% 6.00% 15.5 7.50 15.00 30.00 15.00 12.50 Cabell 8/22/20 $87,500,000 3,842,010,504 2.277% 5.00% 15.5 7.50 15.00 30.00 15.00 12.50 Hampshire 6/9/20 $26,200,000 1,348,106,309 1.943% 5.00% 10.50 9.67 19.34 38.68 19.34 16.12 Berkeley $124,940,000 7,170,532,185 1.742% 5.75% 15.75 7.25 14.50 29.00 14.50 12.08 -
What BCS projects have been completed with earlier bonds?
The Berkeley County community has supported many bond projects in the past. The 1995 bond issue of $15,950,000 (approved by voters in 1995) built the new Musselman High School, Potomack Intermediate School, an addition to Hedgesville Middle School, and a new Musselman Middle School. This allowed the former Musselman Middle School to become an intermediate school in the fall of 1999.
The 2001 bond issue of $27,800,000 (approved by the voters in 2001)built the new Mountain Ridge Intermediate School, Spring Mills Middle School, provided additions/renovations to Bunker Hill Elementary School, Martinsburg High School, South Middle School, Hedgesville High School, Mill Creek Intermediate School, Hedgesville Elementary School, and Back Creek Valley Elementary School.
The 2010 bond issue of $51,500,000 (approved by voters in2009) built the new Spring Mills High School and Mountain Ridge Middle School and provided additions and renovations to North Middle School and Musselman High School.
