Home Rule in the Mountain State

Huntington's city council plans to vote Friday whether to move forward under a "home rule" pilot project that would allow it greater tax-levying and other powers.

The Herald-Dispatch has the details. Among its components, the home rule plan would "overhaul the city's tax structure by implementing a sales tax and/or occupation tax and repealing the $2-a-week user fee and reducing the business and occupation tax," the newspaper reports.

Wheeling, meanwhile, submitted its plan to take part in the five-year pilot program earlier this week, The Intelligencer reports. Public Broadcasting examines that city's proposal as well (with audio).

Up to five municipalities can participate. Bridgeport has also approved a plan, Weirton's was defeated by its city council and Fairmont's foundered over constitutional concerns, the Herald-Dispatch reports.