ORDINANCE SIGNED Huntington Occupation Tax Officially Dead
Reported by: Darrah Wilcox
Web Producer: Darrah Wilcox
Reported: Mar. 13, 2013 4:23 PM EDT
Updated: Mar. 13, 2013 8:33 PM EDT
EYEWITNESS ONLINE WEBCAST VIDEO C L I C K T O P L A Y
Huntington
, Cabell County
, West Virginia
Two days after council members unanimously voted to repeal the occupation tax, Huntington mayor Steve Williams signed the ordinance at a special ceremony at city hall. "We've done it. It's official. The occupation tax is dead," Williams said as he finished signing it.
Williams said, "Everybody seemed to be against it other than members of city council and the previous administration. "
Businesses, Cabell County commissioners, and other parties sued the city in hopes of banning the tax, and most recently, state lawmakers have questioned the legality of the tax.
Williams said, "The one thing that would keep coming up was the occupation tax. Frankly, my feel was that if we kept it on the books, then that would be an excuse to take the home rule bill now. It's gone now."
Council members voted Monday to repeal the occupation tax.
Council member Mark Bates said, "This is good to get it behind us and make a statement to the legislature that Huntington's not going to pursue the occupation tax and that home rule is very important to us."
City leaders are hoping that keeps important home rule legislation moving through the legislature.
Williams said, "I believe that Huntington is in the cutting edge and we are being innovative and others are following our lead."
He said he hopes the repeal of the tax inspires the parties involved in the lawsuit to reconsider the legal issue.
MORE NEWS FROM EYEWITNESS NEWS
FRONTIER EVENT Frontier Honors Veterans At Event May. 22, 2013 9:42 PM EDT Frontier Communications is getting a jump on the Memorial ...
Clark school board hears warning over facilities May 22, 2013 7:40 PM EDT Clark County school board Chairman Michael Kuduk says the board will probably have to comply with orders from Kentucky Education Commissioner Terry Holliday to start implementing a controversial facilities plan.
Ohio bill would extend Medicaid, add cost sharing May 22, 2013 6:32 PM EDT A Republican state lawmaker is proposing to link Medicaid expansion in Ohio to job training that could ultimately reduce the need for participation in the program.
Darrah Wilcox
