By Stephen Smoot
On May 12, as part of the combined county and city election, residents of Shinnston will vote on the renewal of the City levy. As City of Shinnston officials explain, voting for the levy does not increase a tax or create a new tax. It only maintains the levy currently in place.
By law, revenues generated by the levy go into two dedicated funds. Streets and sidewalks get the lions share of the funding at 80 percent. With many sidewalks dating back 90 or more years and City administered roads bearing significant traffic from residents and visitors alike, funding from the levy serves as an investment.
Maintenance keeps both streets and sidewalks as safe as possible. Additionally, Shinnston’s economy relies increasingly on tourism with visitors impressed by the city’s walkable aesthetic. Specifically, in recent years the fund has paid for repairs, resurfacing, and upgrades to both roads and sidewalks.
The remaining 20 percent funds the City’s parks and recreation opportunities. Shinnston is blessed with a large City park, as well as the green space downtown. Keeping both in good order is increasingly expensive with fuel and equipment costs continuing to rise. In recent years, funding has gone to purchase new playground equipment as well.
Both Ferguson Memorial Park and the City green space also serve as tourism draws. The Park hosts concerts, festivals, and even one of the few regular Shakespeare in the Park type events in the state. Community gatherers for regular weekly fun at the green space, which also brings tourists next door to Shinnston’s business community that thrives off of tourism.
One key use of levy funds lies in using it for grant matches. Many grant opportunities for towns and cities, whether from government, non profit, or business sources, prefer to award to recipients with “skin in the game.” Many grants request that the recipient chip in 10, 20, or sometimes as much as 30 or 50 percent.
In any event, the way that grants work means that the City can invest relatively little to obtain a lot more from outside sources, giving levy funds the most “bang for the buck” in terms of return.
The City relies on the levy to fund projects that enhance both the safety and aesthetic of Shinnston, enhancing the kind of “small town lifestyle near big city amenities” dynamic that residents and tourists alike appreciate.
Without the levy, officials warn that the City would need to more specifically prioritize its needs. Projects would face delays, or be set aside altogether. This would impact the progress made by the City in recent years as it has evolved into a center for arts and recreation. Officials say “it’s more than a budget decision.”
City officials related that “by voting to renew the excess levy, you’re helping ensure that our streets remain safe, our sidewalks accessible, and our parks welcoming for generations to come.”
