WELLSBURG - An Oct. 17 special election will determine the fate of two Brooke County excess levies supporting local fire departments, several Brooke County departments and agencies and improvements to the Brooke County Courthouse.

Polling sites, which will be the same as those used in the county's regular elections, will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Registered voters also may vote in advance at the Brooke County Courthouse from 9 a.m. to noon today and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Wednesday.

The levies must be supported by at least 60 percent of voters to be adopted.

If approved, the Brooke County fire levy will raise $335,995 per year for five years, with the amount to be divided evenly among 11 local fire departments for operations, maintenance, equipment, supplies and liability and other insurance.

Set to receive $30,545 each per year are the Beech Bottom, Bethany, Bethany Pike, Colliers, Follansbee, Franklin Community, Hooverson Heights, McKinleyville, Weirton, Wellsburg and Windsor Heights fire departments.

If approved, the Brooke County ambulance excess levy would raise $718,553 per year for five years for repairs to the county courthouse and several county departments and agencies.

The allocation for courthouse repairs, in the amount of $50,000 per year, is new to the levy, which has generated funds for the ambulance service and other county services for a number of years.

Bernie Kazienko, president of the Brooke County Commission, said the funds will be used to replace the courthouse's fire alarm system, renovations to the main courtroom such as new lighting and air conditioning; and general maintenance of the building.

If approved, the levy also will be divided among the following areas: Brooke County, Bethany and Weirton ambulance services, $183,574; Brooke County Health Department, $131,000; Brooke County Public Library and Follansbee Branch Library, $128,500; Brooke County Parks and Recreation Commission, which operates Brooke Hills Park, $77,000; West Virginia University Extension Service, $55,041; Brooke County Committee on Aging, which operates the Brooke County Senior Center, $36,500; Healthways Inc., including operation of the Brooke County Opportunity Center and costs for mental hygiene proceedings, $35,000; and the Mary H. Weir Public Library, $21,938.

Brooke County Assessor Tom Oughton said though the allocations are higher than when the levy was passed five years ago, property owners won't be paying more tax.

He said property values projected five years ago for the current levies were high, so levy rates for their renewal have been lowered to reflect that.

For example, the owner of a house assessed at $50,000 currently pays $18.45 per year under the current levy rate but will pay $17.82 under the new levy rate.

If the ambulance excess levy is passed, Brooke County property owners will pay the following amounts per $100 of the assessed value of property in the following categories: Class I, 2.97 cents; Class II, 5.94 cents; and Classes III and IV, 11.88 cents.

If the fire levy is passed, Brooke County property owners will pay the following amounts per $100 of the assessed value of property in the following categories: Class I, 1.38 cents; Class II, 2.76 cents; and Classes III and IV, 5.52 cents.

Leaders of local fire departments and county officials said the two levies are a vital source of funding, allowing them to provide such services as emergency services, transportation for veterans and seniors, delivery of hot meals to elderly shut-ins, health inspections at local restaurants and free access to computers, books and movies at local libraries.

John Schwertfeger, director of the Brooke County Ambulance Service, said funds from the levy have been used primarily to replace and upgrade equipment used by the ambulance crews.

He said equipment is a major expense for the ambulance service, with heart monitors starting around $1,500 and a new ambulance costing between $50,000 and $60,000.

Janice McFadden, manager of Brooke Hills Park, said levy funds help to pay for utilities, maintenance of the grounds and facilities and fuel and repairs for equipment.

Mary Kay Wallace, director of the Brooke County Public Library and its Follansbee Branch, said levy funds account for half of the library's operating budget and are used to pay for books, video and audio materials and local newspapers, story hours for children and informational programs geared toward adults.

She said it also pays for utilities and Internet access available to everyone, but used in recent years by an increasing number of residents who are seeking jobs.

Wallace said while there are tentative plans to expand the library's permanent World War II Prisoner of War exhibit, private funds are being sought for that project and no levy funds will be used.

Ron Ostrosky, president of the Brooke County Firefighters Association and treasurer of the Franklin Community Fire Department, estimated that levy funds account for 40 percent of the budgets of most of the county's fire departments.

Ostrosky said the funds typically are used to pay utilities for fire stations and fuel and maintenance costs for emergency vehicles, expenses that have risen steadily in recent years.

He expressed appreciation to voters who have supported the levy over the last 30 years.

"It's always passed with at least 80 percent of the vote. We've been very fortunate to have the support we've had," Ostrosky said.

McFadden was among county officials who expressed gratitude for the ambulance excess levy.

"We've been very fortunate to have had the support of the public for the levy," she said.

(Scott can be contacted at wscott@heraldstaronline.com.)