Weirton discussing update to business license, planning fees

MAKING SUGGESTION — Ward 4 Councilman George Ash holds up some possible examples of business license fees, as used in other West Virginia cities, during a work session Thursday night. City council is discussing the possibility of updating Weirton’s business license fees, as well as those assessed for planning reviews. — Craig Howell

WEIRTON — Weirton Council is looking into the possibility of updating the city’s business license fees, as well as those assessed as part of planning reviews for development projects in the city.

Members of council met in a work session Thursday for preliminary discussions on the proposals.

“Some of these haven’t been looked at, reviewed, or anything since 1969,” said Ward 4 Councilman George Ash.

Mikeal Maguschak, who oversees the business license program in the city, provided council with information on the city’s current business license fee structure, as well as options from other cities and recommendations on a few changes.

“There are a lot of different options,” he said, suggesting one possibility is to establish a blanket fee for the majority of businesses, with another fee for those regulated by the state.

He also pointed to some license fees for outdated businesses, or those which might be restrictive, making particular mention of licenses for vending machines which charged 1 cent or 5 cents, and a $750 license fee for fortune tellers.

Maguschak also explained any suggested change would need to be reviewed by City Attorney Vince Gurrera.

City Manager Mike Adams noted there are limitations, under state code Section 11-12-4, as to how high such license fees can go, saying they can’t be higher than state fees. Gurrera said the target would have been the cost of state fees as of July 1, 1970, and said it’s possible some of the city’s fees already are at their maximum levels.

“We just have to find out what those rates were,” Gurrera said.

Ward 7 Councilman Terry Weigel said, while he agreed there is a need to simplify and update the fee structure, he would be concerned about the possibility of losing revenue as a result of the changes.

“Are we going to make more money, or are we going to lose more money?” Weigel asked.

Maguschak said that could all be determined as part of the review, while Ash recommended having legislation prepared for council’s June meeting. If anything is passed, it would not be effective until January 2025.

Discussion also was held concerning possible changes to the fee assessed for planning reviews. Currently, the fee is based on the cost of the project, and incorporated into the permit fees.

One possible option, as discussed, would be to assess the fee based on the square footage of the structure.

Additional discussions may be held in the future.