by Lisa Schauer
In a public meeting held on the third Tuesday in April, Town of Bath Council voted unanimously to lower the tax on municipal property by ten percent.
Starting in the new fiscal year on July 1, owner-occupied residential real estate in the town will be taxed at 22 cents per $100 in assessed value, three cents lower per $100 than this year.
Commercial property will be taxed at 44 cents per hundred dollars in value, a decrease of six cents.
The new levy rates are included in the town’s budget for fiscal year 2027, which has been approved by the state.
Revenues & expenses rise
In other business at the public meeting on Tuesday, April 21, Council approved a resolution to revise this year’s budget for the sixth time.
An additional $37,640 in revenue primarily includes $13,500 interest earned from investments; $10,000 from excise tax on utilities; and $9,000 from grants.
The budget revision also shows a decrease of $39,810 in contributions and transfers to other funds.
Additional expenses include $30,000 for the garbage department; $26,600 for streets and highways; and $14,000 for police.
The 2026 budget revision now goes to the state auditor for approval.
Proclamation from the Governor’s office
Special guest West Virginia Senator Darren Thorne read a proclamation signed by Governor Patrick Morrisey in the public meeting at town hall on Tuesday, April 21. 
Titled America’s First Spa Town, the proclamation recognizes that 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the founding of the Town of Bath in 1776, when the area was part of the Colony of Virginia.
Bath is celebrated for its historic contributions to tourism, wellness, and the cultural heritage of Morgan County and West Virginia, read Thorne.
The proclamation cites the Virginia General Assembly for recognizing the importance of these springs by reserving them for public use, establishing one of the earliest public wellness destinations in America.
