Associated Press Published

Parkersburg Drops Plan to Delay B&O Tax Cuts

jimmycolumbo.jpg

Parkersburg officials have dropped a plan to delay business and occupation tax cuts required by the state’s home rule law.

Mayor Jimmy Colombo tells the Parkersburg News and Sentinel that the city will comply with an opinion from theWest Virginia Attorney General’s Office.

The opinion says delaying the cuts isn’t in accordance with the law.

The law requires cities that impose a sales tax to reduce B&O taxes.

Parkersburg imposed a 1 percent sales tax beginning July 1. The city had planned to delay the B&O tax cuts until Jan. 1, 2016 to ensure it maintained a balanced budget.

City Council President J.R. Carpenter says he’s confident that the city will make up the lost revenue.