Published: August 27, 2008 12:38 am      

Rivesville B&O tax closer to reality

RIVESVILLE — A proposed B&O tax moved one step closer to becoming a reality when the town council here voted unanimously to move the ordinance to its third and final reading during Tuesday’s meeting.

Council members have been working on the ordinance for weeks, stressing during numerous meetings that the tax is essential to continuing services in the town. The second reading of the ordinance was much less contentious than the first reading, which occurred during the last council meeting.

The ordinance will be read for the third time at the next council meeting, which will be at 7 p.m. Sept. 9 in the town hall.

“There were no changes in the ordinance from the last time it was read,” said Mayor Tammie Crites.

The ordinance, if passed, would levy a tax of $1 on every $100 of gross income generated from rental property. Retail businesses in the town, which include bars and gas stations, would also be subject to the tax, paying 50 cents for every $100 of gross income generated.

Crites pointed out during a previous council meeting that the majority of businesses in the town are retail in nature.

The ordinance would also levy a tax on the power plant located in Rivesville. The plant would be charged $2 for every $100 on sales and demand charges for domestic and commercial use. The ordinance also sets a $26 one-time exemption for all businesses.

During the work session, Crites broached the topic of collecting the tax. If a business is suspected of not paying its B&O tax, then the collection of the debt would be turned over to the West Virginia Municipal League, she said.

She added that the league would then take 30 percent of what it collects as payment for its services. If the municipal league does not collect the funds for whatever reason, then no charge is levied against the town, she noted.

E-mail Paul Fallon at pfallon@timeswv.com.