CHARLESTON, W. Va. — As the legislature digs into the second half of the regular session, both chambers are working on bills to expand a program which transfers powers from the state to the local level.
“In the Senate, they actually have a bill [SB 323] that they’re willing to let all Class 1, 2, 3 cities in [to the Home Rule program],” Delegate Patsy Trecost (D-Harrison, 48), former chair of the Home Rule Board said. “In the House, a bill [HB 2539] that I’m a part of, allows the seven cities that were not included in the 20 to come in. So, that would take the number up to the 27 that actually filled out an application.”
Home Rule began as a pilot program in 2007 with four cities, Bridgeport, Huntington, Charleston and Wheeling. Due to the success of the program, the state legislature voted to expand the program to 20 total cities, bringing in Bluefield, Buckhannon, Charles Town, Clarksburg, Dunbar, Fairmont, Milton, Morgantown, Martinsburg, South Charleston, Parkersburg, Ranson, Vienna, Weirton, Nitro and Shinnston –Berkeley Springs, Spencer, Lewisburg, Moundsville, Oak Hill, Princeton and St. Albans were the seven excluded.
The municipalities currently in the program have used the power shifted from the state to the local level to implement sales taxes, issue liens for delinquent city fees and take measures to clean up blighted areas, among other things.
However, Trecost explained the powers do have a limit.
“There’s certain things legislation just not willing to allow to happen, but at the same time, there’s certain things they’re willing to allow you to do to make your city stronger.”
The program has adjusted since its inception. For instance, annexation of land was permissible at the onset, but has since been prohibited through home rule.
These tweaks were made through the work of the Home Rule Board. Now with Bob Kiss, Cabinet Secretary for the state Department of Revenue serving as chair, Trecost hopes the legislature keeps the organization as is.
“If you keep the board in place, then you’re going to have a liason to work with the Tax Department and the Division of Highways, so that we don’t ever overstep our boundaries,” he said. “I like the idea that we were able to be a middle ground and work with them.”
Under the current system, municipalities must develop and present their plans on how they will use home rule to the board, then, if approved, they must develop and produce ordinances on how they will specifically implement their plans for the board’s approval.
“Nobody knows their city better than the people that live there,” Trecost said. “At the same time, if you have the board in between working with the state and the municipality, you can draw caution to it and at the same time, show both sides what the pluses and the minuses would be.”
Trecost was a guest on the MetroNews’ affiliated AJR News Network program “The Mike Queen Show” Monday.
The Senate’s bill passed 31-2 and was sent to the House. The House’s bill remains in its first of two committees.