If either HB 3012 or SB 513 pass as written, the cities of New Cumberland will receive 7% of the funding and Chester will receive 16 % while the City of Weirton would receive 77% of the funding, The bill divides up the 1% received by municipalities in Hancock County on a “per capita” basis and is sponsored by Sens. Zatezalo and McGeehan in the House and Sens. Weld and Laura Wakim Chapman in the Senate. Both New Cumberland and Chester have been working with Del. McGeehan who is working to get the “per capita” proviso amended out.
The bill removes the provision that only cities contained “wholly” in Hancock County are eligible for the money. A portion of Weirton is contained in Brooke County making it ineligible for to receive the money under legislation passed in 2023.
“The original premise of dedicating 2 % of the revenue to the county in the original bill in 1995 was that the Mountaineer had neither a fire or police department and the local police departments and sheriff’s office would be responsible for the track,” said Tamara Pettit, co-sponsor of the original bill. “The same held true for fire protection, the volunteer fire departments closest to the track would be the first responders if a fire broke out. That same scenario holds true for the communities who bear the burden of the police and fire protection for Mountaineer.”
According to Pettit a Senate Bill attempted to dedicate moneys to the cities on a per capita basis in 2000 died in House Finance.
In a letter from the City of New Cumberland to the delegates and senators involved in the legislation, City Clerk Tamara Jenkins calls the per capita provision “heart wrenching.”
“The Hancock County Commission already had to cut their budget and ask Chester and New Cumberland to pick up expenses for the volunteer fire departments, We will take on that expense because New Cumberland has a wonderful Volunteer Fire Department and we will always have their back. If you do the math that 7% that New Cumberland would now receive would be approximately $56,000.00 which would be the amount to cover the Fire Department only,” said Jenkins.
“I am asking if you could please stand behind the small towns that don’t have a lot of businesses and keep the bill the way it is written which gives Hancock County 1% and an even split of 1% between New Cumberland and Chester, I hope that you will be able to stand behind us on this matter.” Jenkins continued.
SB 513 appears to be moving in the Senate. It passed without amendment from the Gov. Organization Committee and is now referred to the Committee on Finance. If it passes Finance (where it could be amended) it will go to the full floor of the Senate where it could be amended on the Second reading. It will than go to the House of Delegates.
(A statement from Mayor Ed Wedgewood on behalf of the City of Chester can be viewed below)
