Wood County officials seek legislative action
By PAMELA BRUSTPARKERSBURG - Wood County officials have some New Year's wishes they'd like to share with state legislators.
Legislators will be in their first session Feb. 11. Adjournment will be midnight April 11.
Wood County Assessor Rich Shaffer said he'd like to see taxpayer relief in the form of an increase in the Homestead Exemption, elimination of personal property tax and a change in classification, allowing residential property, whether single-family homes or rentals, all placed in the same classification. Currently rental property is taxed at double that of owner-occupied single-family residences.
"I'd like to see all residential properties in Class II. Taxing rentals at twice the rate just means landlords are passing that double taxation on to their renters, who, many times are the least able to pay that double tax. I don't feel that is fair. I would like to see all residential property in the same classification," he said. Shaffer said he doesn't know what effect that might have on revenue collections for the county. He does know what elimination of personal property tax would mean.
"Personal property only accounts for about 8 percent of the total tax, so in Wood County I don't think we'd see that big a loss of revenue." Personal property is the tax paid on items like automobiles, motorcycles, campers, and boats.
"I'd also like to see the Homestead Exemption increased to $30,000. Property values have continued to go up over the years and this exemption stays the same. I feel it's time that it be increased. The Senior Citizens Tax Credit was added a few years ago and that is a help. It's another $20,000 off the assessed value for people that are low income. But it's complicated, a lot of people don't understand why they are getting the form which is mailed from the state. The credit provides a refund similar to an income tax refund, only the funds are taken out of state lottery proceeds," Shaffer said. "Many don't take advantage of it because it's confusing. I get calls every year from people with questions about it."
"I think it would be a lot more straight forward to just increase the homestead rather than add new and different programs that kind of convolute the whole thing and make it more confusing to folks," Shaffer said.
The current homestead exempts the first $20,000 of assessed value on the single-family, owner-occupied residence of the applicant. To qualify, applicants must be 65 or older or be disabled. There are currently 9,057 Homestead Exemptions on file.
Regional jails and related costs to counties are among the legislative concerns on the mind of Commissioner Blair Couch.
"The regional jail is always on our minds, and if there is a potential for new regional jails to be constructed," Couch said.
According to county records, for the first five months of this year the county's regional jail bill totaled $839,876 compared to $821,202 for the same period last year.
Couch also noted concerns with the Public Employees Retirement System, Public Employees Insurance Agency and rising costs.
"When our employees retire, the county doesn't get the same rates as the state government charges its own entities. When someone, employed by the state retires, the cost to that agency is lower than if they were employed by the county, we are footing a much higher bill," Couch said. The county is not covered by the PEIA. Years ago county officials opted out of the PEIA system mainly because of rising costs, and the county currently has Blue Cross/Blue Shield for its coverage.
"But on retirement, the employee is enrolled in PEIA, and the county is forced to pay a larger portion. For example, we have at least one recently retired employee we are paying $1,200 a month on," Couch said, adding he feels payments need to be equalized and he'd like to see more transparency as to how charges are assessed and tabulated.
"I think, if given the ability to look for options, we could find something less expensive," he said.
Mark Rhodes, deputy clerk who works with finance, said counties that don't participate in the PEIA program do pay a higher rate of coverage on retirees.
"We only see what this county is billed for, it is a sliding scale," Rhodes said, noting payments are based on years of service and type of coverage, single, or family and the retiree pays a portion of the cost. Rhodes noted many of the retirees have more than 20 years of service when they leave.
Wood County commissioner Rick Modesitt said among issues he'd like to see addressed are adequate funding for volunteer fire departments, clarification of annexation laws and some changes in reappraisal laws.
"The volunteer firefighters who risk their lives on a daily basis shouldn't have to spend all their time out trying to raise funds," Modesitt noted.
"I would like to see the Legislature clarify and fine tune annexation laws so one government isn't pitted against another, while still allowing for viewpoints of surrounding property owners to be heard. It's an ongoing problem all over the state," he said.
"On taxation, I'd like to see them take a look at property reappraisal, currently assessors must reappraise every three years, I'd like to see it changed to five years, to slow down the tax burden, but still be fair for government entities," Modesitt said.
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whoreallycares
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01-04-09 8:39 PM
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No I can't stand either of those hippie newspapers. They are completely biased for dems. I prefer non-biased papers which means I don't really like any papers. You can comment all you wantm. It is a right that many died to maintain for us. I was just trying to figure where the biased anger was coming from since it seems everything that you say relates back to the mayor no matter what the article is about. It could say that a little girl just found her long lost cat and you would say it was Pothole Bob's fault it got lost in the first place. I just thought maybe you would give us some insight but I realize now that you blog so that you do not have to actually own up to it.
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derbeobachter
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01-03-09 10:27 PM
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I thought that’s what blogs were for to express your opinion, if you don’t like it subscribe to the Washington Post, or New York Times it would better fit you. That’s the trouble with people like you, so just keep sitting back, the rest will fright your fight for ya.
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whoreallycares
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01-03-09 7:55 PM
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Derbeo what is your grudge with the mayor? I have spent the last several weeks reading your comments (all 100 of them) and responding just to have fun w you because I thought it was sad to see a grown man who spent so much time blogging like a teenager. But now I'm worried about you. Do you need anger management? Did Pothole Bob arrest you in the past, or beat you or one of your friends in an election? It is completely obvious there is more to it than just the mayor's actions in office. Your cute names and remarks show it is personal. Any chance you would have the courage to give us a name/face behind this anger so maybe we can understand it more?
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derbeobachter
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01-03-09 6:39 PM
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I am not a fireman, volunteer or otherwise, but the last parade I was at, not only did I see a city of Parkersburg fire truck, but fire chief and the good ole boy Mayor, Pothole Bob Newell. The city of Vienna has done very well over the years with Volunteers; maybe Parkersburg should look at that example. Oh, I forget, the fireman will be at Point Park hosing off the 3 million dollar parking lot that’s in the flood zone.
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bobzim
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01-03-09 11:49 AM
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Believe me, you get much better service from the volunteer fire departments in this area than the people in the city get from a paid department. The volunteers are better equipped, better manned, and more professional in many instances.
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fisherman
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01-03-09 10:15 AM
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Listen Geezer… First I am not a fireman! BUT these volunteer fire fighters place themselves at risk every time they board the fire equipment to go out on a call. Besides fires and wrecks you see them out when trees cross the road, at rock slides, on icy roads, and many other problems that may occur. They have to endure wind, rain, sleet, snow and icy roads to protect people like you and I. Geezer I’m sure you drive out of the city of Parkersburg. God forbid you would have an accident. But guess who would SERVICE YOU in an accident. These same volunteers! SO ABOUT THE PARADES IF THEY HAVE THE CHANCE TO BRING SMILES TO A CHILDS FACE AND THEIRS TOO….. FOR THEIR VOLUNTEER SERVICES…. I SAY YOU GO VOLUNTEERS!
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Geezer
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01-03-09 9:04 AM
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Let those who are serviced by a volunteer fire department pay for it. Those of us who live in the city already pay a fire fee. We also have an added tax on our insurance bills which goes to volunteer fire departments. The VFD's seem to be able to participate in every parade around, so things must not be so desperate...
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