Wood County residents won’t see a change in their tax rates for the upcoming fiscal year. During a special meeting on Tuesday, the Wood County Commission officially set the county’s levy rates for 2025-26, keeping them the same for the fifth year in a row.
Commission President Blair Couch said the consistency in rates shows responsible budgeting.
“It is the same as last year and the year before that and the year before that and the year before that,” Couch said. “It is exciting to be able to continue to work inside our budget with the same dollars we have had over the last five years.”
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Tax Rates Remain the Same
The rates are based on every $100 of assessed property value and are set as follows:
- 13.81 mills for Class I property
- 27.62 mills for Class II property
- 55.24 mills for Class III and IV properties
These levies are expected to bring in $17 million of the county’s total $29.4 million budget, which was approved on March 27.
Voters also previously approved an excess levy for public libraries in November 2022. That levy will remain:
- 0.54 mills for Class I
- 1.08 mills for Class II
- 2.16 mills for Class III and IV
That levy is expected to generate $681,340 for local libraries.
Commissioner Jimmy Colombo pointed out that Wood County is still the third lowest-taxed county in West Virginia.
Accomplishments and Challenges
Couch highlighted achievements like completing the Wood County Resiliency Center using one-time funds and upgrading the 911 Center for improved public safety.
However, a major concern looming over the budget is the county’s rising jail bill, which has been steadily climbing and is expected to rise even further.
The cost of housing inmates in regional jails is expected to jump from $150,000 to more than $200,000 per month, due to a 2023 law passed by the West Virginia Legislature.
How Jail Costs Are Calculated
Each county’s jail bill is based on a per diem rate per inmate, determined by population and usage data. As of April, the base daily rate is $57.46 per inmate. Counties receive a 20% discount for the first 80% of their allotted inmate days, lowering the rate to $45.97. After passing that threshold, the full rate applies, and if the county goes over its share, the rate increases to $68.95 per day.
Wood County reached 80% of its pro rata share by March 31, meaning it will pay the full rate moving forward.
County Administrator Marty Seufer said the county averaged 182 inmates and 3,912 inmate days per month over the last nine months.
Starting July 1, those rates will go even higher:
- $53.82 for the discounted rate
- $67.27 for the base rate
- $80.72 if the county exceeds its limit
Unfair Burden on Active Counties?
Couch criticized the new law, saying it punishes counties like Wood that actively enforce the law.
“If we arrested nobody, we would have a zero-dollar jail bill,” he said.
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He added that law enforcement should not be forced to think about costs when arresting criminals.
“Our magistrates and circuit judges do not consider our jail bill when they convict people,” Couch said. “The bad guys need to go to jail. They are dangerous, and they need to be there.”
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Couch also warned that Wood County may end up paying the highest jail bill in the state. He urged for better communication between county commissioners and state lawmakers to avoid laws that unintentionally hurt larger counties.
Despite frustrations, Couch said the county will adapt.
“We will deal with what we have and go from there.”
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Wood County continues to balance steady taxes with rising public safety costs — a challenge many counties may soon face.
