Home Rule Story Archives - Page 2 of 4 - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Elkins, Harpers Ferry Gain Larger Say in How They Govern

Elkins and Harpers Ferry have gained a larger say in how they govern.

The West Virginia Municipal Home Rule Board granted both municipalities home rule status on Monday. The program shifts power from the state to the local level.

Also Monday, Bridgeport and South Charleston received approval to implement a 1 percent city sales tax.

The West Virginia Department of Commerce announced the board’s actions in a news release.

The Legislature created the home rule program in 2007 as a five-year pilot in Bridgeport, Charleston, Huntington and Wheeling. There are now 28 municipalities participating in the program.

Board Grants Home Rule to 6 Municipalities

Six West Virginia municipalities have been given a larger say in how they govern.

The West Virginia Municipal Home Rule Board granted home rule status to Beckley, Grafton, Princeton, St. Albans, Moundsville and Oak Hill on Monday.

There are now 26 municipalities participating in the pilot program, which shifts power from the state to the local level.

The program began as a five-year pilot in 2007 in Bridgeport, Charleston, Huntington and Wheeling. Since then, the Legislature has expanded the program to 34 municipalities.

The West Virginia Department of Commerce says there are still openings for four municipalities with populations of less than 2,000 and four municipalities with populations of 2,000 or more.

Weirton Plans To Create Sales Tax Under Home Rule Program

Weirton City Council plans to establish a city sales tax under the state’s home rule program.

The City Council plans to ask the West Virginia Home Rule Board to approve an amendment to Weirton’s home rule plan implementing a 1 percent sales tax.

The Weirton Daily Times reports that a resolution authorizing the city manager to submit the amendment to the board received the City Council’s unanimous approval on its first reading. The resolution will undergo a second reading at a special council meeting before it’s submitted to the board.

Weirton is among more than a dozen cities chosen in 2014 to participate in the home rule program. The program gives municipalities a larger say in how they govern by shifting power from the state to the local level.

Parkersburg, Vienna Implement Sales Taxes Under Home Rule

Businesses in Parkersburg and Vienna will begin charging an additional penny on the dollar for taxable items and services this week.

Each city has implemented a 1 percent municipal sales tax under West Virginia’sMunicipal Home Rule Pilot Program. The Parkersburg News and Sentinel reports that the municipal taxes will be added to the state’s 6 percent sales tax on Wednesday.

State law requires cities that impose a municipal sales tax to reduce business and occupation taxes.

Vienna’s business and occupation tax cuts will go into effect on Wednesday. Parkersburg plans to delay its tax cuts until Jan. 1, 2016.

The Home Rule Board has asked Attorney General Patrick Morrisey for an opinion on whether Parkersburg’s plan complies with the law.

Martinsburg to Crack Down on Sanitation, Nuisance Violators

Martinsburg officials plan to use the city's new home rule authority to crack down on sanitation and nuisance violators.Planning department head Michael…

Martinsburg officials plan to use the city’s new home rule authority to crack down on sanitation and nuisance violators.

Planning department head Michael Covell tells The Journal that the city will begin issuing warnings and citations to violators in July. Violations include unmowed lawns and open storage in residential districts.

Previously, city officials had to go through a lengthy legal process to force a property owner or tenant to clean up their property.

Martinsburg is among more than a dozen cities chosen in 2014 to participate in the home rule program. The program gives municipalities a larger say in how they govern by shifting power from the state to the local level.

With Hopes to Curb Couch Burning, Morgantown Passes Outdoor Furniture Ban

In response to the many street fires following big football and basketball games, Morgantown unanimously passed a law Tuesday, April 7, that bans upholstered furniture outdoors.

No one spoke during a public hearing about the new ordinance that would ban people living in city limits from having upholstered furniture in their yards or unenclosed porches.

Morgantown City Manager Jeff Mikorski said the ban is an attempt to stem the number of fires that often spring up after West Virginia University games.

“Over the last 10 years, we’ve had over 3,000 street fires because of the quick ability to bring furniture from porches and put it into the streets and put them on fire,” he said.

Morgantown City Council used the state’s Home Rule pilot program to develop the law.

Mikorski said the city’s previous attempt to tie a ban on outdoor upholstered furniture to its health code was struck down by a judge. The new law amends the city’s property maintenance laws.

Mikorski said violators will receive a written warning before a citation is issued. The penalty is a fine of up to $500 dollars.