West Virginia Municipal Home Rule Board Story Archives

Bridgeport to Impose Local Sales Tax Under Home Rule

Bridgeport’s City Council has approved 1 percent local sales tax to finance construction and operation of a proposed indoor recreation facility.

The new tax will go into effect on July 1, 2016.

The Exponent Telegram reports that the council voted on Monday to impose the tax under the state’s home rule program. The program shifts power from the state to the local level.

The city also is repealing its business and occupation tax on manufacturing. The home rule program requires cities that impose a municipal sales tax to reduce business and occupation taxes.

Bridgeport is one of the home rule program’s charter municipalities. Twenty-eight municipalities are now participating in the program, which was created by the Legislature in 2007.

Weirton Council Approves Local Sales Tax Under Home Rule

Taxable items and services offered by Weirton businesses soon will cost an additional penny on the dollar.

The Weirton Daily Times reports that City Council voted on Monday to create a 1 percent municipal sales tax under the state’s home rule program. The council also amended its business and occupation tax to eliminate a wholesale tax.

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

Mayor Harold Miller says the sales tax is expected to generate $1.2 million to $1.5 million in revenue for the city.

Weirton is among 28 cities participating in the home rule program. The program shifts power from the state to the local level.

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.