HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 82
(By Delegates Manchin, Moye, Doyle, Tabb and Wysong)
Requesting that the Joint Committee on Government and Finance
conduct a study of municipal annexation under article six,
chapter eight of the West Virginia Code to facilitate a more
effective and responsive annexation process.
Whereas, Current West Virginia Code permits a municipality to
annex adjacent territory by three different methods: Election,
petition and minor boundary adjustment; and
Whereas, County Commissions are often impacted by municipal
annexations in their counties; and
Whereas, Residents in territory annexed or proposed to be
annexed under these methods sometimes feel they are not accorded an
adequate voice in the annexation process; and
Whereas, A study of the municipal annexation process in this
state and other states would be beneficial to help ensure an
annexation process that is both flexible enough to permit
annexation that is not overly encumbered with legal or
administrative hurdles, yet is responsive enough to provide
meaningful input from affected parties such as county governments;
and
Whereas, Annexation by municipalities often result in desirable
economic growth; and
Whereas, The annexation of unincorporated territory by
municipal corporations greatly affects the citizens and the general
public in both the municipality and the county involved in the
annexation process; and
Whereas, There are potential savings and economic development
opportunities to municipalities and counties involved in the
annexation process and the citizens and general public may benefit
from improvements in the public discussion of annexation;
therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby
requested to study municipal annexation to facilitate a more
effective and responsive annexation process; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance study the annexation of unincorporated territory by
municipal corporations to insure the fair and equal treatment of
citizens and the general public in both the municipality and the
county involved in the annexation process; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance report to the Regular Session of the Legislature, 2008, on
its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with drafts
of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Legislative expenses necessary to
conduct this study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary
legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint
Committee on Government and Finance.
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