Sept. 12, 2010
Three Republican Candidates Share Thoughts in Opposition to Huntington Occupation Tax
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) – Huntington will hold a public hearing Monday, September 13 at 6:30 p.m. on revisions to its home rule plan. Those revisions include the four prong tax reform package that implements an occupation tax and a 1% sales tax, while reducing the Business and Occupation tax on city business (and eliminating it for manufacturing) and removal of the $3.00 per week user fee.
T-Anne See, a Republican candidate in District 16 for House of Delegates, attended one of the public hearings on the tax reforms. Ms. See told HNN at the GOP John Raese rally, Friday, Sept. 10, that “I have not talked to one person that was for the occupation tax. When that many people disagree, [council] needs to pause … they have been adding taxes for years and it does not seem to have helped.”
The Barboursville resident admits that Huntington needs “things fixed,” such as the streets which are in “terrible” shape, but there has to be a better way.”
She suggested that “legislators and Marshall University business people, do some forums and meetings. Ms. See complimented “knowledgeable” Dr. Maurice Lockridge, an assistant professor in the Lewis College of Business . The fear of people and business leaving Huntington still comes up in her communications.
“We don’t want Huntington to become less, we need to build it up, [but] I’ve talked to people with business locations in Huntington that want to [relocate] and are looking at property outside the city limits.”
Asked about feedback from individuals living inside the city, Ms. See stated, “They do not think that it is fair that people outside the city have to pay the tax.” In addition, the business boycott of the city remains on the table based on her conversations. “People are saying they will not do business in Huntington and that grieves me,” she said, adding, “Huntington needs the business.”
As for solutions, Ms. See mentioned some type of piggyback tax with the state where municipalities receive one per cent.
Cabell County Commission candidate Ann Morton Yon as a conservative stated, “I’m not in favor of more taxes. I don’t like the taxes we have to pay now.” However, she disagrees with the plan for the Cabell County Commission to challenge the Huntington tax in court.
“There’s a lot of people upset about it , [especially] they do not have representation because they live outside of the city. I don’t think it’s the role of the county to tell the elected official of Huntington what to do,” Ms. Yon said, explaining, that “it’s important for the City of Huntington and the residents of Barboursville and Milton to cooperate, get along and make the most of what money we have.”
Referring to the possible challenge by the Commission current Del. Carol Miller echoed the sentiment of fellow delegate Kelii Sobonya. Both voted against the Home Rule Pilot program believing it violates West Virginia’s Constitution.
”We are in the troughs of what will happen with an unconstitutional bill,” Miller said. “One of the biggest problems we have in our state is picking winners and losers and to have consistent laws that treat everybody the same.
Assuming council passes the revised plan, the state home rule board must meet to also approve it.
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Three Republican Candidates Share Thoughts in Opposition to Huntington Occupation Tax
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) – Huntington will hold a public hearing Monday, September 13 at 6:30 p.m. on revisions to its home rule plan. Those revisions include the four prong tax reform package that implements an occupation tax and a 1% sales tax, while reducing the Business and Occupation tax on city business (and eliminating it for manufacturing) and removal of the $3.00 per week user fee.
T-Anne See, a Republican candidate in District 16 for House of Delegates, attended one of the public hearings on the tax reforms. Ms. See told HNN at the GOP John Raese rally, Friday, Sept. 10, that “I have not talked to one person that was for the occupation tax. When that many people disagree, [council] needs to pause … they have been adding taxes for years and it does not seem to have helped.”
The Barboursville resident admits that Huntington needs “things fixed,” such as the streets which are in “terrible” shape, but there has to be a better way.”
She suggested that “legislators and Marshall University business people, do some forums and meetings. Ms. See complimented “knowledgeable” Dr. Maurice Lockridge, an assistant professor in the Lewis College of Business . The fear of people and business leaving Huntington still comes up in her communications.
“We don’t want Huntington to become less, we need to build it up, [but] I’ve talked to people with business locations in Huntington that want to [relocate] and are looking at property outside the city limits.”
Asked about feedback from individuals living inside the city, Ms. See stated, “They do not think that it is fair that people outside the city have to pay the tax.” In addition, the business boycott of the city remains on the table based on her conversations. “People are saying they will not do business in Huntington and that grieves me,” she said, adding, “Huntington needs the business.”
As for solutions, Ms. See mentioned some type of piggyback tax with the state where municipalities receive one per cent.
Cabell County Commission candidate Ann Morton Yon as a conservative stated, “I’m not in favor of more taxes. I don’t like the taxes we have to pay now.” However, she disagrees with the plan for the Cabell County Commission to challenge the Huntington tax in court.
“There’s a lot of people upset about it , [especially] they do not have representation because they live outside of the city. I don’t think it’s the role of the county to tell the elected official of Huntington what to do,” Ms. Yon said, explaining, that “it’s important for the City of Huntington and the residents of Barboursville and Milton to cooperate, get along and make the most of what money we have.”
Referring to the possible challenge by the Commission current Del. Carol Miller echoed the sentiment of fellow delegate Kelii Sobonya. Both voted against the Home Rule Pilot program believing it violates West Virginia’s Constitution.
”We are in the troughs of what will happen with an unconstitutional bill,” Miller said. “One of the biggest problems we have in our state is picking winners and losers and to have consistent laws that treat everybody the same.
Assuming council passes the revised plan, the state home rule board must meet to also approve it.
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Make HNN Your Homepage (IE Users Only)
