Legislature 2008: Counties

Officials from West Virginia's 55 counties are looking to the Legislature for help after the Supreme Court upheld the state regional jail authority's power to charge the counties for housing their inmates.

One interim committee lawmaker suggested releasing suspects on their own recognizance when charged with misdemeanors, instead of locking them up, The Register-Herald reports.

“I don’t see why you should have people sitting in jail with misdemeanors, unless you have some aggravating factors,” said Delegate John Ellem, R-Wood.

Other lawmakers and county officials are advising the state to hike its tax on alcohol, given the number of offenses blamed on drinking, the Beckley newspaper reports.

Also covering the interim discussion, The Charleston Gazette relays another option: returning magistrates to 24/7 shifts to reduce the number of suspects jailed overnight while they await their initial arraignments.

The Gazette has a separate report with good news for counties. "State officials registered more vehicles from new residents this summer than ever after lawmakers decided to end levying the privilege tax on the newcomers’ autos and combined it with a three-month amnesty period," that article said.

Property taxes, which are also levied on such personal property, are a key revenue source for counties.

The 2008 session is also likely to feature another county-related topic, annexations.

The state Supreme Court recently affirmed the voluntary petition method used by municipalities to expand. County officials want that method tweaked, with some seeking its abolishment. But as the Charleston Daily Mail reports, Charleston Mayor Danny Jones and the state Municipal League are going to put up a fight.