June 26, 2010
Huntington Tax Reform Package Likely in July
Several Council Members Indicate No Consensus
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) – Unless a last minute entrée comes unexpectedly, Huntington City Council will not have any tax reform items on its Monday, June 28 agenda. At the previous meeting Council Chairman Jim Insco unleashed a draft written time frame for a reexamination of the occupation tax , city sales tax, and other tax reforms.
Speaking by phone to HNN, council chairman Jim Insco indicated that he does predict a multi-pronged tax reform package to begin working its way through council beginning with the first meeting in July. The Wolfe Administration has received word from the state’s home rule authority that council should proceed with its package, then, the board will , in Insco’s words act “expeditiously” on an up or down vote.
Insco, based on Thursday evening knowledge, anticipates that approval will not be sought for a single item, such as sales tax implementation, but a comprehensive reform package.
As of this writing Insco has not heard from all council members, but will go forward with available positive input.
Council members Scott Caserta and Frances Jackson told HNN that clearly no council consensus has occurred on the potentially tweaked proposals suggested by Insco.
“The few council members that I have talked to led me to believe there is not a consensus of council,” Caserta said. “I don’t know that there’s not something in the works.”
His impression comes “strictly” from the occupation tax portion of the proposal.
As for the sales tax, “I have not had any further talks with anyone about it,” Caserta said.
Council member Frances Jackson told HNN Thursday, June 24, “I haven’t made up my mind,” hinting that councilman Jim Ritter shares the viewpoint.
Earlier, at large council member Rebecca Thacker told HNN that she would NOT support an occupation tax.
WORK SESSION AGENDA
The Finance Committee of Huntington City Council met Thursday afternoon at City Hall to consider vehicle purchases, a Sanitary Board project, and end of year and beginning of the year revisions.
One of the Sanitary Board projects has been listed by the Corps of Engineers and involves the emergency repair of a slipping sewer . The Emergency Steambank Protection Project at Staunton and Riverview Avenues. Erosion and bank failures from flood events have exposed a municipal sewer line paralleling the Ohio River. The proposed project consists of protecting the sewage line from encroachment by the river and eventual failure, a Corps of Engineers evaluation stated.
During recent Ohio River flood events, 2001 to present, a 1050 foot reach of 42 inch reinforced concrete pipe (RCP) sewer was exposed to flood related erosion, recessional failures, and piping, causing loss of cover soil and pipe exposure. The purpose of this project is to provide a cost-effective means to prevent further damage to the municipal sewer line.
The preferred alternative would be a longitudinal staggered setback dike similar to the design used to stabilize the 24th/25th Street riverbank in 1999. The cost is estimated at $310,000.
Insco said the funds would come from the Huntington Sanitary Board budget and there would be no increase in rates. http://www.lrh.usace.army.mil/_kd/Items/actions.cfm?action=Show&item_id=17589&destination=ShowItem
SOCCER
On a lighter note, the tall red-haired council chair has a soft spot for youth sports. He’s excited and hoping Huntington, Barboursville, and surrounding Cabell County locations put on a good show for the youth soccer tournament that begins July 1 with opening ceremonies at the Joan C. Edwards Stadium.
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Huntington Tax Reform Package Likely in July
Several Council Members Indicate No Consensus
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) – Unless a last minute entrée comes unexpectedly, Huntington City Council will not have any tax reform items on its Monday, June 28 agenda. At the previous meeting Council Chairman Jim Insco unleashed a draft written time frame for a reexamination of the occupation tax , city sales tax, and other tax reforms.
Speaking by phone to HNN, council chairman Jim Insco indicated that he does predict a multi-pronged tax reform package to begin working its way through council beginning with the first meeting in July. The Wolfe Administration has received word from the state’s home rule authority that council should proceed with its package, then, the board will , in Insco’s words act “expeditiously” on an up or down vote.
Insco, based on Thursday evening knowledge, anticipates that approval will not be sought for a single item, such as sales tax implementation, but a comprehensive reform package.
As of this writing Insco has not heard from all council members, but will go forward with available positive input.
Council members Scott Caserta and Frances Jackson told HNN that clearly no council consensus has occurred on the potentially tweaked proposals suggested by Insco.
“The few council members that I have talked to led me to believe there is not a consensus of council,” Caserta said. “I don’t know that there’s not something in the works.”
His impression comes “strictly” from the occupation tax portion of the proposal.
As for the sales tax, “I have not had any further talks with anyone about it,” Caserta said.
Council member Frances Jackson told HNN Thursday, June 24, “I haven’t made up my mind,” hinting that councilman Jim Ritter shares the viewpoint.
Earlier, at large council member Rebecca Thacker told HNN that she would NOT support an occupation tax.
WORK SESSION AGENDA
The Finance Committee of Huntington City Council met Thursday afternoon at City Hall to consider vehicle purchases, a Sanitary Board project, and end of year and beginning of the year revisions.
One of the Sanitary Board projects has been listed by the Corps of Engineers and involves the emergency repair of a slipping sewer . The Emergency Steambank Protection Project at Staunton and Riverview Avenues. Erosion and bank failures from flood events have exposed a municipal sewer line paralleling the Ohio River. The proposed project consists of protecting the sewage line from encroachment by the river and eventual failure, a Corps of Engineers evaluation stated.
During recent Ohio River flood events, 2001 to present, a 1050 foot reach of 42 inch reinforced concrete pipe (RCP) sewer was exposed to flood related erosion, recessional failures, and piping, causing loss of cover soil and pipe exposure. The purpose of this project is to provide a cost-effective means to prevent further damage to the municipal sewer line.
The preferred alternative would be a longitudinal staggered setback dike similar to the design used to stabilize the 24th/25th Street riverbank in 1999. The cost is estimated at $310,000.
Insco said the funds would come from the Huntington Sanitary Board budget and there would be no increase in rates. http://www.lrh.usace.army.mil/_kd/Items/actions.cfm?action=Show&item_id=17589&destination=ShowItem
SOCCER
On a lighter note, the tall red-haired council chair has a soft spot for youth sports. He’s excited and hoping Huntington, Barboursville, and surrounding Cabell County locations put on a good show for the youth soccer tournament that begins July 1 with opening ceremonies at the Joan C. Edwards Stadium.
Share This Story:
Make HNN Your Homepage (IE Users Only)
