Fees Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

West Virginia Governor Rejects Parking Increase Proposal

Update from Jun. 21, 2018 at 5:41 p.m.

West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice has quashed a proposal to raise parking rates for state employees.

The state Department of Administration proposed the increase June 11 as well as higher fines for some parking violations. The plan was to have been open for public comment for one month.

The Charleston Gazette-Mail reported on the proposal Tuesday, and Justice’s office said in a news release that he ordered it withdrawn as soon as he found out about it. The withdrawal is effective Thursday.

Monthly parking for state employees at the Capitol complex and all other off-campus locations with paid parking would have risen from $20 to $25. Fines for some parking violations would have also gone up, some more than doubling.

Original Post from Jun. 21, 2018 at 1:00 a.m.

A rule change has been proposed for West Virginia state employees that would increase the monthly parking cost by 25 percent.

The Charleston Gazette-Mail reports the proposal was filed June 11 and is open to public comment through July 11.

Monthly parking for state employees at the Capitol complex and all other off-campus locations with paid parking would rise from $20 to $25. Fines for some parking violations would also go up. Parking in legislative spaces, parking in no-parking areas and improper parking would be subject to fines of $25, up from $10.

The fine for overtime parking at metered visitor parking spaces would increase from $5 to $10.

The current metered parking rate of 50 cents per hour would not increase.

Most West Virginia Community Colleges to Hike Fees

All but one of West Virginia’s public community and technical colleges are planning to increase tuition and fees for associate’s degrees.

West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission official Matt Turner tells The Charleston Gazette-Mail that the Community and Technical College System presumes the colleges have already approved the average increase of 2.6 percent. CTSC data shows the average yearly cost will increase to $4,040 next academic year.

Eastern West Virginia is the only school that will not raise tuition and fees.

Mountwest is implementing the highest proposed increase, at 7.2 percent, which comes around to $270. That hike brings its annual cost to $4,014, still slightly below the average.

Despite passing the state Senate, a bill to make such colleges tuition-free failed in the House of Delegates this legislative session.

Some Customers Facing Higher Water Quality Fee

Water quality service fees will be increasing for some customers in West Virginia.

The Herald-Dispatch reports when the fee began in 2014 in the Huntington area, it was scheduled to be a flat $7.15 for residential and non-residential property owners for two years. That was while the Water Quality Board conducted mapping of impervious surfaces — man-made structures contributing to water runoff — on non-residential properties.

Stormwater Utility Director Sherry Wilkins says the mapping is completed.

As a result, the newspaper says the fees will increase for 2,080 non-residential customers.

Residential property owners will still pay the flat rate.

Non-residential owners will pay the $7.15 rate up to 3,000 square feet of impervious materials, plus an additional $1.05 for every 1,000 square feet of impervious material between 3,000 and 1 million square feet.