CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Members of Nitro City Council may decide today whether to take another shot at passing the city's excess tax levy.

City voters went to the polls Sept. 27 to pass or reject the levy, which has been in effect almost continuously since 1932. The levy provides about $369,000 of Nitro's $5 million budget, and helps pay for police and firefighter salaries, street maintenance, parks and recreation, streetlights, the city library and fire hydrants.

City officials originally thought the levy required a simple majority to pass, but found out the levy required a 60 percent majority. After an official vote canvass on Friday, the levy failed by seven votes, with 302 in favor of continuing the levy and 213 against, said City Recorder Rita Cox.

Mayor Rusty Casto said City Council is expected to vote at a regular meeting today whether to put the levy back on the ballot.

"We talked about putting it back on in January, where we could explain it a little better," Casto said. The levy last failed in 2000, and was not put back on the ballot until the following year.

The levy costs city taxpayers an extra 10.66 cents for every $100 of value on Class II property, or 21.32 cents per $100 on Class IV property. The owner of a $50,000 house pays about $53 a year.

Casto predicts across-the-board budget cuts if the levy is not renewed. The levy provides about $70,000 a year for the city Fire Department and about $136,000 a year to the Police Department.

Police Chief Jack Jordan said the levy is responsible for more than 10 percent of his annual budget.

Reach Rusty Marks at rustyma...@wvgazette.com or 348-1215.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Members of Nitro City Council may decide today whether to take another shot at passing the city's excess tax levy.

City voters went to the polls Sept. 27 to pass or reject the levy, which has been in effect almost continuously since 1932. The levy provides about $369,000 of Nitro's $5 million budget, and helps pay for police and firefighter salaries, street maintenance, parks and recreation, streetlights, the city library and fire hydrants.

City officials originally thought the levy required a simple majority to pass, but found out the levy required a 60 percent majority. After an official vote canvass on Friday, the levy failed by seven votes, with 302 in favor of continuing the levy and 213 against, said City Recorder Rita Cox.

Mayor Rusty Casto said City Council is expected to vote at a regular meeting today whether to put the levy back on the ballot.

"We talked about putting it back on in January, where we could explain it a little better," Casto said. The levy last failed in 2000, and was not put back on the ballot until the following year.

The levy costs city taxpayers an extra 10.66 cents for every $100 of value on Class II property, or 21.32 cents per $100 on Class IV property. The owner of a $50,000 house pays about $53 a year.

Casto predicts across-the-board budget cuts if the levy is not renewed. The levy provides about $70,000 a year for the city Fire Department and about $136,000 a year to the Police Department.

Police Chief Jack Jordan said the levy is responsible for more than 10 percent of his annual budget.

Reach Rusty Marks at rustyma...@wvgazette.com or 348-1215.