County Voters to Decide … Commission Votes to Institute Tax Levy for Ambulance Service BY MOOREFIELD EXAMINER · NOVEMBER 12, 2013 By Jean A. Flanagan / Moorefield Examiner – The citizens of Hardy County will decide the future of emergency ambulance service on May 13, 2014. The Hardy County Commission voted last week to present a Special Levy on the Primary Election ballot. The commission met on Tuesday, Nov. 5. If approved, the levy will increase taxes on real estate from July 2014 through July 2018 as follows: Class I – 2.06¢ Class II – 5.20¢ Class III – 10.40¢ Class IV – 10.40¢ All rates are per $100 of assessed value of property. Prosecuting attorney Lucas See reminded the commissioners they can’t promote the levy, but can present facts about it to the public. Neither can they use public funds to promote it. The decision to bring the matter to a public vote was made, in part, because of confusion about the Special Emergency Ambulance Fee imposed in August. As an example, Hardy County Emergency Ambulance Authority President Greg Greenwalt presented the commission with several dozen exoneration requests. According to the Special Emergency Ambulance Fee Ordinance, the HCEAA is to review the requests, investigate them and make recommendations to the County Commission regarding the exoneration. Again, according to the ordinance, “If good cause for exoneration is found by the County Commission, said County Commission shall exonerate or modify any or all imposed charges and shall notify the property owner in writing of its actions.” However, the county commissioners were reluctant to decide what, if any, exonerations to grant. “It’s not up to us,” Commission President J. Michael Teets said. Greenwalt reminded the commissioners of the language in the ordinance. “We welcome you to review these, but the ordinance says we are to make recommendations and you are to make the final decision.” “I don’t think we need to do anything,” Teets said. “We gave the responsibility to you.” “We can’t do anything,” Greenwalt said. “The County commission has to make the final decision.” Greenwalt said the exoneration requests were divided into several categories. Some owners were requesting exoneration because their property is only occupied a short time during the year. Commissioner William “JR” Keplinger moved and Commissioner A. J. Wade seconded the seasonal residents are billable. The motion passed. Other requests for exoneration were from property owners with two or more properties in Hardy County, only one of which is their primary residence. Keplinger moved and Wade seconded that exonerations be granted for those second residences within the county. Greenwalt said there were other requests for exoneration on property that was deemed unlivable by the Assessor’s Office. He provided a photograph of a derelict house covered with vegetation.
Posted on: Wed, 13 Nov 2013 22:03:00 +0000
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