Martinsburg, Berkeley County set new levy rates

April 18, 2001

Martinsburg, Berkeley County set new levy rates

By BOB PARTLOW / Staff Writer, Martinsburg

Berkeley County and the City of Martinsburg this week set their property levy rates for the coming year with little comment from taxpayers.

The Berkeley County Commission called a special public meeting to discuss the proposed rates, an increase of about 3 percent from the year before, but only one person showed up, said Commission President Howard Strauss.

That person had no complaint, but was curious about the process, Strauss said.

"I think we had gotten the word out during the budget process and there was a lot of information we had provided before," said Strauss.

Last month, the commission approved its $13.1 million operating budget, more than half of which comes from property taxes.

"I think this is what you can do when you provide as much information ahead of time," said Strauss of the lack of attendance at the meeting.

The county rates are:

-- 13.2 cents per $100 of assessed value for Class I property, primarily agriculture.

-- 26.4 cents for owner-occupied property.

-- 52.8 cents for two classes of personal property, one inside Martinsburg and the other outside.

Strauss said the county share of the property tax levy is only abut 20 percent of the actual property tax levied. The school system takes up the bulk of it, he said.

Martinsburg officials also approved the city rates with no public comment Tuesday, said City Manager Mark Baldwin. City rates rose 3 percent.

The city rates are:

-- 9.7 cents per $100 of assessed value for Class I property.

-- $19.40 cents for Class II property.

-- 38.80 for personal property category inside the city limits.

The city's general fund budget for the 2001-02 fiscal year is $7.8 million, of which about $1.15 million comes from the property tax, Baldwin said.

The budget year for both governments starts July 1.

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