reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 West Virginia Code › Chapter 7. County Commissions and Officers › Article 27. Letting Our Counties Act Locally Act › §7-27-30. State Level Administration of County Transportation Sales and Use Taxes Required; Fee for Services

(a) State administration required. – Any county commission that imposes a county transportation sales and use tax may not administer, collect or enforce those taxes. Authority to administer, collect and enforce county transportation sales and use taxes is vested solely in the Tax Commissioner as required by article fifteen-b, chapter eleven of this code.
(b) Fee for services. – The Tax Commissioner may assess a fee to be retained from collections authorized by this article. Said fee shall not exceed the lesser of the cost of the service provided or five percent of the net amount of the taxes imposed pursuant to this article that are collected by the Tax Commissioner during any fiscal year, notwithstanding any provision of this code or rule to the contrary. For purposes of calculating the cost of the service provided, the provisions of section eleven-c, article ten, chapter eleven of this code and the legislative rules promulgated pursuant thereto shall be utilized.
(c) Deposit of fees in special revenue account. – The fees retained by the Tax Commissioner pursuant to subsection (b) of this section shall be deposited in the Local Sales Tax and Excise Tax Administration Fund, created pursuant to section eleven-c, article ten, chapter eleven of this code.
2023 West Virginia Code › Chapter 7. County Commissions and Officers › Article 27. Letting Our Counties Act Locally Act › §7-27-31. County Transportation Sales Tax Collected From Purchaser

A vendor selling tangible personal property or custom software or furnishing a service in a county that imposes a county transportation sales tax pursuant to this article shall for the privilege of doing business in the county collect the county transportation sales tax from the purchaser at the same time and in the same manner that the tax imposed by article fifteen, chapter eleven of this code, is collected from the customer. All sales of tangible personal property and custom software made in the county and all services furnished in the county are presumed to be subject to the county transportation sales tax unless an exemption or exception applies.
2023 West Virginia Code › Chapter 7. County Commissions and Officers › Article 27. Letting Our Counties Act Locally Act › §7-27-32. Payment of County Transportation Use Tax

A county transportation use tax imposed pursuant to this article shall be paid to the Tax Commissioner by the user of tangible personal property or custom software or the results of a taxable service in the county that imposes the county transportation use tax, unless the county's use tax is collected by a retailer located outside the county that is a retailer engaging in business in the county as defined in this article, or the retailer is an out-of-state retailer who is required to collect West Virginia state and local use taxes.
2023 West Virginia Code › Chapter 7. County Commissions and Officers › Article 27. Letting Our Counties Act Locally Act › §7-27-33. County Transportation Sales and Use Taxes in Addition to Other Taxes

County transportation sales and use taxes imposed pursuant to this article shall be collected and paid in addition to:
(1) The state consumer sales and service tax imposed by article fifteen, chapter eleven of this code;
(2) The state use tax imposed by article fifteen-a, chapter eleven of this code;
(3) Any hotel occupancy tax imposed pursuant to section one, article eighteen of this chapter;
(4) Any tax imposed pursuant to article twenty-two of this chapter;
(5) Any municipal sales or use tax imposed pursuant to section five-a, article one, chapter eight of this code;
(6) Any tax imposed pursuant to sections six and seven, article thirteen, chapter eight of this code;
(7) Any tax imposed by article thirty-eight, chapter eight of this code; and
(8) The tax imposed by section twenty-one, article three-a, chapter sixty of this code.
2023 West Virginia Code › Chapter 7. County Commissions and Officers › Article 27. Letting Our Counties Act Locally Act › §7-27-34. Credit for Sales Tax Paid to Another County

(a) A person is entitled to a credit against the use tax imposed by a county commission pursuant to this article on the use of tangible personal property, custom software or the results of a taxable service in the county equal to the amount, if any, of sales tax lawfully paid to another county for the acquisition of that tangible personal property, custom software or taxable service. However, the amount of credit allowed may not exceed the amount of use tax imposed on the use of the property or service in the county of use and no credit may be allowed for payment of county special district excise taxes imposed pursuant to article twenty-two of this chapter.
(b) For purposes of this section:
(1) "County" means a county in this state or a comparable unit of local government in another state;
(2) "Sales tax" includes a sales tax, or a compensating use tax, lawfully imposed on the sale or use of tangible personal property, custom software or a taxable service by the county, as appropriate, in which the sale or first use occurred; and
(3) "State" includes the fifty states of the United States and the District of Columbia but does not include any of the several territories organized by Congress.
(c) No credit is allowed under this section for payment of any sales or use taxes imposed by this state or by any other state.
2023 West Virginia Code › Chapter 7. County Commissions and Officers › Article 27. Letting Our Counties Act Locally Act › §7-27-35. Sourcing Rules for County Transportation Sales and Use Taxes

Sales, purchases and uses of tangible personal property, custom software and taxable services shall be sourced for purposes of imposition and payment of county transportation sales and use taxes imposed pursuant to this article in accordance with the sourcing rules set forth in article fifteen-b, chapter eleven of this code applicable to the taxes imposed by articles fifteen and fifteen-a, chapter eleven of this code.
2023 West Virginia Code › Chapter 7. County Commissions and Officers › Article 27. Letting Our Counties Act Locally Act › §7-27-36. Application of State Consumers Sales and Service Tax Provisions

(a) Application of state sales tax. – The provision of article fifteen, chapter eleven of this code, and any subsequent amendments to that article and the administrative rules of the Tax Commissioner relating to article fifteen of chapter eleven shall apply to a county transportation sales tax imposed pursuant to this article to the extent that article and the rules are applicable to the tax imposed by the county.
(b) Application of state use tax law. – The provisions of article fifteen-a, chapter eleven of this code, and any subsequent amendments to that article and the rules of the Tax Commissioner relating to article fifteen-a of chapter eleven shall apply to a county transportation use tax imposed pursuant to this article to the extent the rules and laws are applicable.
(c) Definitions incorporated. – Any term used in this article or in an order adopted by a county commission pursuant to this article imposing county transportation sales and use taxes that is defined in articles fifteen, fifteen-a and fifteen-b, chapter eleven of this code and used in those articles in a similar context, shall have the same meaning when used in this article or in an order entered by the county commission pursuant to this article imposing county transportation sales and use taxes, unless the context in which the term is used clearly indicates that a different result is intended by the Legislature.
2023 West Virginia Code › Chapter 7. County Commissions and Officers › Article 27. Letting Our Counties Act Locally Act › §7-27-37. Application of West Virginia Tax Procedure and Administration Act

Every provision of the West Virginia Tax Procedure and Administration Act set forth in article ten, chapter eleven of this code, and as amended from time to time by the Legislature, applies to the taxes imposed pursuant to this article, except as otherwise expressly provided in this article, with like effect as if that act were applicable only to the taxes imposed by this article and were set forth in extensor in this article or the order entered by the county commission imposing the taxes pursuant to this article.
2023 West Virginia Code › Chapter 7. County Commissions and Officers › Article 27. Letting Our Counties Act Locally Act › §7-27-38. Application of West Virginia Tax Crimes and Penalties Act

Every provision of the West Virginia Tax Crimes and Penalties Act set forth in article nine, chapter eleven of this code, and as amended from time to time by the Legislature, applies to the taxes imposed pursuant to this article with like effect as if that act were applicable only to the taxes imposed pursuant to this article and were set forth in extensor in this article or the order entered by the county commission imposing the taxes pursuant to this article.
2023 West Virginia Code › Chapter 7. County Commissions and Officers › Article 27. Letting Our Counties Act Locally Act › §7-27-39. Local Rate and Boundary Changes

(a) General. – New county transportation sales and use taxes and any change in the rate of existing county transportation sales and use taxes shall first apply and be collected and paid only on the first day of a calendar quarter that begins at least sixty days after the Tax Commissioner notifies sellers of the imposition of the county taxes, or a change in the rate of those taxes, except as provided in subsection (b) of this section.
(b) Printed catalogs. – County transportation sales and use taxes and any change in the rate of taxation shall first apply to purchases from printed catalogs where the purchaser computed the tax based upon the local tax rate published in the catalog only on and after the first day of a calendar quarter that begins after the Tax Commissioner provides sellers at least one hundred twenty days' notice of imposition of the tax or a change in the rate of taxation.
(c) County boundary changes. – A county boundary change shall first apply for purposes of computation of a county transportation sales and use taxes on the first day of a calendar quarter that begins at least sixty days after the Tax Commissioner notifies sellers of the boundary change.
2023 West Virginia Code › Chapter 7. County Commissions and Officers › Article 27. Letting Our Counties Act Locally Act › §7-27-40. Deposit of County Transportation Sales and Use Taxes; Payment to Division of Highways

(a) All county sales and use taxes collected by the Tax Commissioner under this article shall be collected and paid to the credit of each county commission's subaccount in the "County Road Improvement Account" established pursuant to this article.
(b) The credit shall be made to the subaccount of the county commission of the county in which the taxable sales were made and services rendered or taxable uses occurred as shown by the records of the Tax Commissioner and certified by the Tax Commissioner to the State Treasurer, namely, the location of each place of business of every vendor collecting and paying sales and use taxes to the Tax Commissioner without regard to the place of possible use by the purchaser and by every person remitting county transportation use tax to the Tax Commissioner or paying the county's use tax to the Tax Commissioner.
(c) As soon as practicable after the county transportation sales and use taxes for a particular county have been paid into the county’s subaccount of the “County Road Improvement Account” in any month for the preceding reporting period, the Commissioner of Highways or the West Virginia Economic Development Authority may issue a requisition to the Auditor requesting issuance of a state warrant for the funds of the county in its subaccount, as provided for by the intergovernmental agreement or agreements executed by the Commissioner of Highways and the county commission.
(1) Upon receipt of the requisition, the Auditor shall issue his or her warrant on the State Treasurer for the funds requested and the State Treasurer shall pay the warrant out of the subaccount.
(2) If errors are made in any payment, or adjustments are otherwise necessary, whether attributable to refunds to taxpayers or to some other fact, the errors shall be corrected and adjustments made in the payments for the next six months as follows: One sixth of the total adjustment shall be included in the payments for each month for the next six months, to be paid in full during this six months period. In addition, the payment shall include a refund of amounts erroneously not paid to the subaccount of the county commission and not previously remitted to the county’s subaccount during the three years preceding the discovery of the error.
(3) A correction and adjustment in payments described in this subsection due to the misallocation of funds by the person remitting the tax shall be made within three years of the date of the payment error.
2023 West Virginia Code › Chapter 7. County Commissions and Officers › Article 27. Letting Our Counties Act Locally Act › §7-27-41. Effective Date of County Transportation Sales and Use Tax

(a) Notwithstanding the effective date of an order of the county commission imposing a county transportation sales and use tax, or changing the rate of tax, the tax or a rate change may not become operational and no vendor may be required to collect the tax and no purchaser or user may be required to pay the tax until the first day of a calendar quarter that begins at least sixty days after the Tax Commissioner complies with the requirements of section thirty-five, article fifteen-b, chapter eleven of this code.
(b) The Tax Commissioner shall issue his or her notice to vendors and other persons required to collect sales and use taxes within thirty days after receiving notice from the county:
(1) A certified copy of the order of the county commission imposing a county transportation sales and use tax, or changing the rate of tax, notwithstanding any other provision of this code or rule to the contrary;
(2) The rate and boundary database of the county identifying all of the five digit zip codes and nine-digit zip codes located in the county in conformity with the requirements for West Virginia to maintain full membership in the Streamlined Sales Tax Governing Board pursuant to article fifteen-b, chapter eleven of this code; and
(3) Such other information as the Tax Commissioner may reasonably require.
2023 West Virginia Code › Chapter 7. County Commissions and Officers › Article 27. Letting Our Counties Act Locally Act › §7-27-42. Early Retirement of Special Revenue Bonds; Termination of County Transportation Sales and Use Taxes; Excess Funds

(a) General. – When special revenue bonds have been issued as provided in this article and the amount of county transportation sales and use taxes collected, less costs of administration, collection and enforcement, exceeds the amount needed to pay project costs and annual debt service, including the funding of required debt service and maintenance reserves, if any, the additional amount remaining in the county's subaccount in the County Road Improvement Account shall be used to retire outstanding revenue bonds before their maturity date in accordance with the terms of such bonds.
(b) Termination of county transportation sales and use taxes. – Once the special revenue bonds issued as provided in this article are no longer outstanding or have been defeased, and no additional road construction projects have been requested and approved by the Commissioner of Highways, the county transportation sales and use taxes shall be discontinued by order adopted by the county commission as provided in this article. Termination of the county transportation sales and use taxes as provided in this section may not bar or otherwise prevent the Tax Commissioner from collecting county transportation sales and use taxes that accrued before the termination date and the rights of the state and the taxpayers as to those taxes shall be preserved.
(c) Excess funds. – After all intergovernmental agreements with the Commissioner of Highways have ended and all debt service on special revenue bonds issued to finance, in whole or in part, the road construction projects has been paid or provided for, and county transportation sales and use taxes imposed by the county have terminated, the Commissioner of Highways shall forward the unencumbered balance of moneys remaining in the county's subaccount in the County Road Improvement Account to the county commission of that county for deposit in the county's general fund.
2023 West Virginia Code › Chapter 7. County Commissions and Officers › Article 27. Letting Our Counties Act Locally Act › §7-27-43. Powers Supplemental

§7-27-43. Powers supplemental.
(a) County commissions. – The powers conferred by this article are in addition and supplemental to the powers conferred upon county commissions by the Legislature elsewhere in this chapter.
(b) Commissioner of Highways. – The powers conferred by this article are in addition and supplemental to the powers conferred upon the Commissioner of Highways, the Division of Highways, and the Department of Transportation by the Legislature elsewhere in this code.
(c) West Virginia Economic Development Authority. - The powers conferred by this article are in addition and supplemental to the powers conferred upon the West Virginia Economic Development Authority by the Legislature elsewhere in this code.
2023 West Virginia Code › Chapter 7. County Commissions and Officers › Article 27. Letting Our Counties Act Locally Act › §7-27-44. Public Officials Exempt From Personal Liability

No member of a county commission or other county officer may be personally liable on any contract or obligation executed pursuant to the authority contained in this article, nor may these contracts or obligations or the issuance of revenue bonds by the Authority secured by county transportation sales and use taxes imposed by county commissions under this article be considered as misfeasance in office.
2023 West Virginia Code › Chapter 7A. Consolidated Local Government › Article 1. General Provisions › §7A-1-2. Legislative Findings

(a) The Legislature finds that:
(1) The fiscal viability of municipal and county governments is challenged by changing demographics and tax bases;
(2) With many local governments there is significant duplicity of services;
(3) Certain local governments are at their taxable limits and yet are facing fee increases to remain financially viable; and
(4) Local governments should perform at the highest level of efficiency and economy while providing the highest standards of governmental services to their citizens.
(b) The Legislature finds that consolidation of local governments:
(1) Is in the public interest;
(2) Would help promote economic growth and development;
(3) Would help local governments provide more efficient local services and more effective public administration; and
(4) Would keep local governments viable and provide more governing flexibility.
(c) Therefore, in order to attain high standards of efficiency, economy, service and flexibility and to assure the ongoing improvement in the quality of life of all citizens of the state, the Legislature hereby encourages and permits all local governments to consolidate part or all of their governmental and corporate functions.
2023 West Virginia Code › Chapter 7A. Consolidated Local Government › Article 1. General Provisions › §7A-1-3. Definitions

For the purposes of this article, the following words have the meanings assigned unless the context indicates otherwise:
(1) "Affected municipality", "affected county", "affected metro government" or "affected area", or the plural, mean municipalities, counties or metro governments in the territory encompassed by the proposed charter of a consolidated local government.
(2) "Consolidated local government", or the plural, means a type of government that encompasses municipal consolidation, county consolidation and metro consolidation.
(3) "County consolidation" and "consolidated county" mean the consolidation of two or more counties as defined by the charter.
(4) "Governing body", or the plural, means the body charged with the responsibility of enacting laws and determining public policy of a municipal or county government or local consolidated government.
(5) "Metro consolidation" and "metro government" mean the consolidation of one or more counties and a principal city as defined by the charter.
(6) "Municipal consolidation" and "consolidated municipality" mean the consolidation of two or more municipalities, including cities, towns and villages, as defined by the charter.
(7) "Principal city" means the municipality with the largest population in the territory encompassed by the proposed charter of the consolidated local government.
2023 West Virginia Code › Chapter 7A. Consolidated Local Government › Article 1. General Provisions › §7A-1-4. Authority to Consolidate

(a) A municipality, county or metro government in this state is authorized to form a consolidated local government with another municipality, county or metro government upon approval by the voters of the affected areas.
(b) The Legislature has the Constitutional authority to permit municipalities to consolidate pursuant to section thirty-nine-a, article VI of the West Virginia Constitution permitting home rule for municipalities. Pursuant to section thirteen, article IX of the West Virginia Constitution permitting reformation of county commissions, the Legislature has the authority to permit counties to consolidate and municipalities and counties to consolidate to create a new executive or legislative tribunal, or both, in the form of a metro government that performs both the duties of a municipality and a county.
2023 West Virginia Code › Chapter 7A. Consolidated Local Government › Article 2. Powers and Limitations › §7A-2-4. Limitations of a Consolidated Local Government

(a) Public school districts, library districts, fire districts, special taxing districts and public service districts are not affected by consolidation under this chapter.
(b) The adoption of a charter does not alter any right or liability of an affected municipality, county or metro government in effect at the time the charter becomes effective. Ordinances and resolutions relating to public improvements to be paid for, in whole or in part, by special assessments remain in effect until paid in full.
2023 West Virginia Code › Chapter 7A. Consolidated Local Government › Article 3. Initiating Consolidation and Establishing Charter Review Committee › §7A-3-1. Initiating Consolidation

(a) Consolidation may be initiated by:
(1) A petition signed by at least twenty-five percent of the qualified voters of each affected municipality for a municipal consolidation, each affected county for a county consolidation or each affected principal city and of the entire county excluding the principal city for a metro consolidation; or
(2) A resolution by the governing body of each affected municipality for a municipal consolidation, each affected county for a county consolidation or each affected principal city and county for a metro consolidation.
(b) The petition or resolution shall be submitted to the county commission of the affected county for all types of consolidation.
(c) Upon receipt, the county commission shall, within thirty days, verify the petition or resolution and either oversee the establishment of a charter review committee as provided in this chapter or reject the petition or resolution for insufficiency.
(d) If the county commission rejects the petition or resolution, the rejection shall be in writing stating how the insufficiency may be corrected and that the petition or resolution may be resubmitted within ninety days.
2023 West Virginia Code › Chapter 7A. Consolidated Local Government › Article 3. Initiating Consolidation and Establishing Charter Review Committee › §7A-3-2. Municipal Charter Review Committee

(a) A municipal charter review committee shall be established within thirty days of the county commission verifying the petition or resolution proposing consolidation.
(b) A municipal charter review committee consists of the following members:
(1) Two government officials or their designees from each affected municipality appointed by their respective governing bodies;
(2) One county commissioner or his or her designee appointed by the county commission from each county where the affected municipalities are located; and
(3) Two or three public members elected during executive session by the other members to make the number of charter review committee members an odd number.
(c) A municipal charter review committee continues to exist until it is dissolved pursuant to the charter or the final disapproval of the charter.
2023 West Virginia Code › Chapter 7A. Consolidated Local Government › Article 3. Initiating Consolidation and Establishing Charter Review Committee › §7A-3-3. County Charter Review Committee

(a) A county charter review committee shall be established within thirty days of the county commissions verifying the petition or resolution proposing consolidation.
(b) A county charter review committee consists of the following members:
(1) Two county commissioners or their designees from each affected county appointed by their respective county commissions; and
(2) Three public members, including one from an unincorporated area, elected during executive session by the other charter review committee members.
(c) A county charter review committee continues to exist until it is dissolved pursuant to the charter or the final disapproval of the charter.
2023 West Virginia Code › Chapter 7A. Consolidated Local Government › Article 3. Initiating Consolidation and Establishing Charter Review Committee › §7A-3-4. Metro Charter Review Committee

(a) A metro charter review committee shall be established within thirty days of the county commission verifying the petition or resolution proposing consolidation.
(b) A metro charter review committee consists of the following members:
(1) Two government officials or their designees from the principal city appointed by the governing body of the principal city;
(2) Two county commissioners or their designees from each affected county appointed by their respective county commissions;
(3) If the principal city is located in two counties and one is not participating in consolidation, then one county commissioner or his or her designee from the county not participating in consolidation appointed by the county commission; and
(4) Two or three public members, including one from an unincorporated area, elected by the other members to make the number of charter review committee members an odd number.
(c) A metro charter review committee continues to exist until it is dissolved pursuant to the charter or the final disapproval of the charter.
2023 West Virginia Code › Chapter 7A. Consolidated Local Government › Article 3. Initiating Consolidation and Establishing Charter Review Committee › §7A-3-5. Duties and Powers of Charter Review Committee

(a) A charter review committee shall study consolidation and the feasibility of consolidation.
(b) A charter review committee shall:
(1) Elect officers from committee members;
(2) Adopt rules;
(3) Prepare a budget; and
(4) Conduct public hearings;
(c) A charter review committee may:
(1) Create subcommittees and working groups to include other government officials and diverse public representatives;
(2) Prepare a written charter;
(3) Employ staff;
(4) Contract with consultants;
(5) Work with agencies of affected local governments; and
(6) Engage in other activities necessary to facilitate the intent of this chapter.
(d) A majority of committee members is a quorum for transaction of business and adopting the charter.
(e) Vacancies on the charter review committees shall be filled in the same manner as provided for in this article.
2023 West Virginia Code › Chapter 7A. Consolidated Local Government › Article 3. Initiating Consolidation and Establishing Charter Review Committee › §7A-3-7. Budget of Charter Review Committee

(a) A charter review committee shall submit a budget to the governing bodies of each affected municipality for a municipal consolidation, each affected county for a county consolidation and each affected principal city and county for a metro consolidation. A charter review committee shall pursue public and private funds to augment its budget. The budget shall state in writing the amount each governing body shall pay, which shall be proportionately based on population.
(b) Within thirty days of receiving the charter review committee's budget, the governing body of each affected municipality, county and metro government shall either approve the budget or recommend written amendments to the budget.
(c) If amendments are recommended, then the charter review committee shall reconsider the budget and resubmit the budget to the governing bodies for approval within thirty days.
(d) The governing body of each affected municipality, county and metro government shall assist the charter review committee and provide office space if needed.
2023 West Virginia Code › Chapter 7A. Consolidated Local Government › Article 4. Charter Review Committee › §7A-4-1. Study by Charter Review Committee and Draft of Proposed Charter

(a) The charter review committee shall study matters relating to the feasibility of consolidation.
(b) The charter review committee shall further address in the charter the powers and authority of the proposed consolidated local government, including, but not limited to:
(1) The territory encompassed by the consolidated local government, including all affected municipalities, counties and metro governments, or parts thereof, to be included in the boundaries of the consolidated local government;
(2) The fiscal impact of the proposed consolidation on the affected municipalities, counties and metro governments including:
(A) The cost of providing services by the consolidated local government;
(B) Projected revenues available to the consolidated local government based upon proposed classifications and tax structures; and
(C) Projected economies of scale resulting from consolidation;
(3) The name of the proposed consolidated local government;
(4) The seat of the proposed consolidated local government;
(5) The representation plan based upon population for the territory encompassed by the consolidation consistent with state and federal law to include consideration of under represented areas and minorities;
(6) The creation of the governing body of the proposed consolidated local government, including an odd number of governing officers of not less than five, their qualifications for holding office, titles, powers, duties, terms of office, manner of election, compensation, method of removal, role of Constitutional officers in new government and other pertinent matters consistent with state and federal law;
(7) The effective date of the charter once consolidation is approved by the electorate;
(8) A procedure for the efficient and timely transition of specified services, functions and responsibilities from each affected municipality, county and metro government and its respective departments and agencies to the consolidated local government to occur within two years from the date the charter becomes effective; and
(9) The method by which a consolidated local government may dissolve after existing for a minimum of six years.
(c) The charter review committee shall complete its study and draft a proposed charter within two years from the date of its organizational meeting.
(d) With regard to a proposed metro consolidation, the metro charter review committee may utilize one of the plans for organizing a municipal government described in section two, article three, chapter eight of this code in the charter for the metro government, but is not limited to these forms of government.
2023 West Virginia Code › Chapter 7A. Consolidated Local Government › Article 4. Charter Review Committee › §7A-4-2. Public Hearings

(a) The charter review committee shall hold a public hearing within three months of the organizational meeting or reconvening, a public hearing within six months of its organizational meeting or reconvening and a public hearing within eleven months of its organizational meeting or reconvening prior to finalizing its draft of the proposed charter. The committee is authorized to hold additional public hearings.
(b) The date, time, place and agenda of the public hearing shall be published as a Class II legal advertisement in a newspaper of general circulation in the affected areas.
2023 West Virginia Code › Chapter 7A. Consolidated Local Government › Article 4. Charter Review Committee › §7A-4-3. Approval of Proposed Charter and Submission to Governing Bodies

(a) Following its final public hearing, the charter review committee shall vote on the proposed charter.
(b) Once approved by a majority vote of the charter review committee, the proposed charter shall be submitted within ten days to the governing bodies of the affected municipalities, counties and metro governments to be voted upon by the electorate.
2023 West Virginia Code › Chapter 7A. Consolidated Local Government › Article 5. Municipal Consolidation Election › §7A-5-2. Notice for Election

(a) At least sixty days prior to the election on the question of municipal consolidation, the governing body of each affected municipality shall make copies of the proposed charter available to the public.
(b) At least fourteen days prior to the election on the question of municipal consolidation, the governing bodies of the affected municipalities shall publish the proposed charter and provide notice of the election, as a Class II legal advertisement, in a newspaper of general circulation in the affected areas. The affected municipalities may share the expense of publication.
2023 West Virginia Code › Chapter 7A. Consolidated Local Government › Article 5. Municipal Consolidation Election › §7A-5-3. Election and Ballots for Municipal Consolidation

(a) After receiving the proposed charter from the municipal charter review committee, the governing bodies of the affected municipalities shall hold an election on the question of consolidation at the next primary or general election in accordance with applicable election laws and section two of this article.
(b) The ballots for the election on consolidation shall be as follows:
[ ] For
[ ] Against
2023 West Virginia Code › Chapter 7A. Consolidated Local Government › Article 5. Municipal Consolidation Election › §7A-5-5. Rejection of Charter and Reconsideration Process

(a) If less than fifty-five percent of the legal votes cast by the qualified voters of any of the affected municipalities approve consolidation, then consolidation is defeated. The charter review committee may reconvene for up to one year to adopt a second proposed charter.
(b) When the second proposed charter is adopted by the municipal charter review committee, then the governing bodies of the affected municipalities shall hold another election on the second proposed charter at the next primary or general election in accordance with applicable election laws and section two of this article.
(c) The ballots for the election on the second proposed charter shall be as follows:
[ ] For
[ ] Against
(d) If the second proposed charter is not approved by at least fifty-five percent of the legal votes cast by the qualified voters of the affected municipalities, then the proposed consolidation is defeated. A new municipal charter review committee cannot be established for at least two years after the second proposed charter is defeated.
2023 West Virginia Code › Chapter 7A. Consolidated Local Government › Article 5. Municipal Consolidation Election › §7A-5-8. Subsequent Joining of Municipality to Consolidated Municipality

(a) After a consolidated municipality has been in existence for at least one year, a municipality may request to join the consolidated municipality by submitting:
(1) A petition signed by at least fifteen percent of the qualified voters in the municipality; or
(2) A resolution by the governing body of the municipality.
(b) Within thirty days of receipt of the petition or resolution, the governing body of the consolidated municipality shall vote to accept or reject the municipality requesting to join.
(c) If the governing body of the consolidated municipality votes to accept the municipality, then the municipality shall hold an election on consolidation at the next primary or general election in accordance with applicable election laws and section two of this article.
(d) The ballots for the election on consolidation shall be as follows:
[ ] For
[ ] Against
(e) If at least fifty-five percent of the legal votes cast by the qualified voters of the municipality approve consolidation, then consolidation becomes effective pursuant to the charter.
(f) If consolidation is not approved by at least fifty-five percent of the legal votes cast by the qualified voters of the municipality, then the consolidation is defeated and cannot be voted upon for one year.
2023 West Virginia Code › Chapter 7A. Consolidated Local Government › Article 6. Elections on County Consolidation › §7A-6-2. Notice for Election

(a) At least sixty days prior to the election on the question of county consolidation, the governing body of each affected county shall make copies of the proposed charter available to the public.
(b) At least fourteen days prior to the election on the question of county consolidation, the governing bodies of the affected counties shall publish the proposed charter and provide notice of the election, as a Class II legal advertisement, in a newspaper of general circulation in the affected area. The affected counties may share the expense of publication.
2023 West Virginia Code › Chapter 7A. Consolidated Local Government › Article 6. Elections on County Consolidation › §7A-6-3. Election and Ballots for County Consolidation

(a) After receiving the proposed charter from the county charter review committee, the governing bodies of the affected counties shall hold an election on the question of consolidation at the next primary or general election in accordance with applicable election laws and section two of this article.
(b) The ballots for the election on consolidation shall be as follows:
[ ] For
[ ] Against
2023 West Virginia Code › Chapter 7A. Consolidated Local Government › Article 6. Elections on County Consolidation › §7A-6-5. Rejection of Charter and Reconsideration Process

(a) If less than fifty-five percent of the legal votes cast by the qualified voters of any of the affected counties approve consolidation, then consolidation is defeated. The county charter review committee may reconvene for up to one year to adopt a second proposed charter.
(b) When the second proposed charter is adopted by the county charter review committee, then the governing bodies of the affected counties shall hold another election on the second proposed charter at the next primary or general election in accordance with applicable election laws and section two of this article.
(c) The ballots for the election on the second proposed charter shall be as follows:
[ ] For
[ ] Against
(d) If the second proposed charter is not approved by at least fifty-five percent of the legal votes cast by the qualified voters of the affected counties, then the proposed consolidation is defeated. A new county charter review committee cannot be established for at least two years after the second proposed charter is defeated.
2023 West Virginia Code › Chapter 7A. Consolidated Local Government › Article 6. Elections on County Consolidation › §7A-6-7. Subsequent Joining of County to Consolidated County

(a) After a consolidated county has been in existence for at least one year, a county may request to join the consolidated county by submitting:
(1) A petition signed by at least fifteen percent of the qualified voters in the county; or
(2) A resolution by the governing body of the county.
(b) Within thirty days of receipt of the petition or resolution, the governing body of the consolidated county shall vote to accept or reject the county requesting to join.
(c) If the governing body of the consolidated county votes to accept the county, then the county shall hold an election on consolidation at the next primary or general election in accordance with applicable election laws and section two of this article.
(d) The ballots for the election on consolidation shall be as follows:
[ ] For (name of consolidated county)
[ ] Against (name of consolidated county)
(e) If at least fifty-five percent of the legal votes cast by the qualified voters of the county approve the consolidation, then consolidation becomes effective pursuant to the charter.
(f) If consolidation is not approved by at least fifty-five percent of the legal votes cast by the qualified voters of the county, then the consolidation is defeated and cannot be voted upon for one year.
2023 West Virginia Code › Chapter 7A. Consolidated Local Government › Article 7. Elections on Metro Government › §7A-7-2. Notice for Election

(a) At least sixty days prior to the election on the question of metro consolidation, the governing bodies of the principal city and affected county shall make copies of the proposed charter available to the public.
(b) At least fourteen days prior to the election on the question of metro consolidation, the governing body of the affected county shall publish the proposed charter and provide notice of the election, as a Class II legal advertisement, in a newspaper of general circulation in the affected county.
2023 West Virginia Code › Chapter 7A. Consolidated Local Government › Article 7. Elections on Metro Government › §7A-7-3. Election and Ballots for Metro Government

(a) After receiving the proposed charter from the metro charter review committee, the governing body of the affected county shall hold an election on the question of consolidation at the next primary or general election in accordance with applicable election laws and section two of this article.
(b) The ballots for the election on consolidation shall be as follows:
[ ] For
[ ] Against
2023 West Virginia Code › Chapter 7A. Consolidated Local Government › Article 7. Elections on Metro Government › §7A-7-4a. Modifying the Percentage Vote Required to Approve Metro Government in Municipal and Countywide Elections From Fifty-Five Percent to a Majority in Counties With Populations in Excess of 150,000

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter to the contrary, where the election is on the question of consolidation of a county with a population exceeding 150,000, based on the 2000 or 2010 census of population taken under the authority of the United States government, and a single Class I city that is the principal municipality of the county, then metro government becomes effective pursuant to the charter if a majority of the legal votes cast by the qualified voters of the principal city and a majority of the legal votes cast by the qualified voters of all incorporated and unincorporated areas of the affected county, excluding the principal city, approves the consolidation.
(b) As used in this section, a Class I city is a municipality so classified under section three, article one, chapter eight of this code.
2023 West Virginia Code › Chapter 7A. Consolidated Local Government › Article 7. Elections on Metro Government › §7A-7-5. Rejection of Charter and Reconsideration Process

(a) If less than fifty-five percent of the legal votes cast by the qualified voters of the principal city and less than fifty-five percent of the legal votes cast by the qualified voters of the affected county, excluding the principal city, approve consolidation, then consolidation is defeated. The metro charter review committee may reconvene for up to one year to adopt a second proposed charter.
(b) When the second proposed charter is adopted by the metro charter review committee, then the governing body of the affected county shall hold another election on the second proposed charter at the next primary or general election in accordance with applicable election laws and section two of this article.
(c) The ballots for the election on the second proposed charter shall be as follows:
[ ] For
[ ] Against
(d) If the second proposed charter is not approved by at least fifty-five percent of the legal votes cast by the qualified voters of the principal city and fifty-five percent of the legal votes cast by the qualified voters of the affected county, excluding the principal city, then the proposed consolidation is defeated. A new metro charter review committee cannot be established for at least two years after the second proposed charter is defeated.
2023 West Virginia Code › Chapter 7A. Consolidated Local Government › Article 7. Elections on Metro Government › §7A-7-6. Municipalities Within Territory Remain Incorporated in Metro Government

Municipalities, other than the principal city, are not automatically consolidated into the metro government. Upon the approval by voters of metro consolidation, municipalities within the territory of the metro government remain incorporated and continue to perform their functions as permitted by law unless dissolved or consolidated pursuant to section eight of this article.
2023 West Virginia Code › Chapter 7A. Consolidated Local Government › Article 7. Elections on Metro Government › §7A-7-8. Subsequent Joining of Municipality, County or Metro Government to Metro Government

(a) After a metro government has been in existence for at least one year, a municipality, county or metro government may request to join the metro government by submitting:
(1) A petition signed by at least fifteen percent of the qualified voters in the municipality, county or metro government; or
(2) A resolution by the governing body of the municipality, county or metro government.
(b) Within thirty days of receipt of the petition or resolution, the governing body of the metro government shall vote to accept or reject the municipality, county or metro government requesting to join.
(c) If the governing body of the metro government votes to accept the municipality, county or metro government, then the municipality, county or metro government shall hold an election on consolidation at the next primary or general election. The election shall be held in accordance with applicable election laws and section two of this article.
(d) The ballots for the election on consolidation shall be as follows:
[ ] For the
[ ] Against the
(e) If at least fifty-five percent of the legal votes cast by the qualified voters of the municipality, county or metro government approve consolidation, then consolidation becomes effective pursuant to the charter.
(f) If consolidation is not approved by at least fifty-five percent of the legal votes cast by the qualified voters of the municipality, county or metro government, then the consolidation is defeated and cannot be voted upon for one year.