Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Bluefield, WV

WV State News

Discussion

March 7, 2013

W.Va. Senate OK’s more local government power-shifting

Associated Press

CHARLESTON — Six more West Virginia cites or towns would experiment with increased government powers through a measure unanimously endorsed by the state Senate.

The bill passed to the House Thursday would continue the Municipal Home Rule Pilot Program for another five years. It would also set further limits on it.

West Virginia has a highly centralized government. Charleston, Huntington, Wheeling and Bridgeport took part in the initial five-year program. They used it to reduce fees, streamline regulations and target blight.

Thursday’s measure would open the pilot to towns with 2,000 or fewer people. It would keep all changes enacted through the initial program except Huntington’s occupation tax.

The renewed pilot would tightly limit tax measures. The power-shifting also would not extend to annexation, environmental laws or pensions, or apply to non-residents.

Text Only
WV State News
AP Video
Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools $1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel? Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction Officials: Texas Tornado Likely Had 200 Mph Wind Brothers Arrested in NOLA Parade Shooting
Business Marquee
College Sports
Pro Sports
Facebook