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CABELL COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) - Change is on the horizon as the Cabell County Board of Education voted unanimously Tuesday evening to restore funding to parks and libraries in the county.

Following that decision, the BOE received a standing ovation from the crowd filled with community members.

Under the new proposal announced on July 5, 2024, it would allocate $1,862,289 to Cabell County Public Libraries and $575,979 to the Greater Huntington Park and Recreation District.

The announcement comes after the previous administration and the controversy surrounding a state supreme court decision earlier this year that said the district no longer needed to provide funding for parks and libraries, resulting in the county offering less funding to the two groups.

“It felt really ... I guess comforting to know that the public wants the same things that I value not only as an employee but as a dad. Our community is stronger when we all work together,” said Superintendent Tim Hardesty.

Marc Williams, the attorney for the Greater Huntington Park and Recreation District and the Cabell County Public Libraries, said he will recommend both boards publicly affirm the new proposed levy.

“It’s a huge relief. This has been a very difficult year to manage the budget cuts that quite frankly didn’t make a lot of sense to us,” Williams said. “I think it’s important that all three groups speak with a unified voice, and one way to do that is to have all three entities endorse the same proposal. I’m confident they will do that.”

The levy will appear on the ballot during the general election on Nov. 5, 2024.

The Cabell County Schools Excess Levy is a renewal of an existing levy and would not raise taxes should voters approve it in November.

In addition to provisions for the public libraries and local parks, the Cabell County Schools Excess Levy provides funding for school safety initiatives, including the employment of School Resource Officers (SROs), salary supplements for all staff, salaries for paid athletic coaches, summer programming, Career & Technical Education and workforce development, instructional support and materials, cybersafety and device security, and maintenance and equipment.

The Greater Huntington Park and Recreation District will meet on Wednesday.

The Cabell County Public Libraries is expected to meet later in the week.

For previous coverage >>> New Cabell Co. superintendent intends to restore full funding to parks, libraries