3:06pm: Hotline with Dave Weekley

Charleston to consider race fee to cover costs

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Charleston City Council will lay its tax levy for next fiscal year at its meeting Monday night at city hall.

Also on the agenda is a proposal to begin charging those who organize events like 5K runs and walks in the city a fee.

The fee would be $500 for race organizers to use an established city course. With that fee they would receive four uniformed police officers and traffic control. Use of Kanawha Boulevard would cost $1,000 per event and $1 per participant. City-sponsored events would not be charged.

Charleston has provided traffic control for the events free of cost but city officials have said overtime costs are going up.

Mayor Danny Jones told MetroNews affiliate 58WCHS recently these are tough financial times for the city, especially when it comes to B&O Tax revenues.

“This flat-lining of our B&O taxes started before the water mess,” the mayor said. “I have no idea what this quarter is going to look like but we’ll find out at the end of April and I can promise you this, it’s not going to be pretty.”

Mayor Jones says the decrease in coal production impacts Charleston.

“As the coalfields shutdown and people get run out of jobs it stretches up here. It hurts us too,” the mayor said. “So we’re going to have to do some readjusting.”

Charleston is also facing increasing pension costs for firefighters and police officers.

“It’s going to bump up our budget–a half a million, a half a million, so fees are going to have to increase. You say, ‘Well Danny we’re going to have to find another mayor,’ you can do that but it’s not going to change the numbers,” Jones said.

City Council’s finance committee meets beginning at 6:30 p.m. Monday followed by the full council meeting.

 





More News

News
West Virginia officials blast new EPA rules with heavier restrictions on coal, gas power plants
Under the EPA rule announced today, coal plants that plan to stay open beyond 2039 would have to cut or capture 90% of their carbon dioxide emissions by 2032.
April 25, 2024 - 1:50 pm
News
Logan Kiwanis club celebrates 100 years
Organization formed by businessmen in 1924 remains committed to same goals of serving children a century later
April 25, 2024 - 1:44 pm
News
Motivational speaker Chris Gardner to deliver Marshall commencement speech Saturday
Two ceremonies will take place at the Marshall Health Arena in Huntington.
April 25, 2024 - 12:13 pm
News
Suspect arrested in turkey hunting incident
Wayne County man charged with a pair of felonies after victim was hit by shotgun fire while hunting turkeys near Genoa, W.Va. this week.
April 25, 2024 - 11:14 am


Your Comments