16-05-2025
Terra Alta won't be able to collect taxes next year: Auditor's office
TERRA ALTA, (WBOY) — The Town of Terra Alta is nearly two months behind the deadline to submit its annual budget, and state officials say that the Tax Department could intervene soon.
According to Hayden Erwin, the Director of Communications for the West Virginia State Auditor's Office, Terra Alta has yet to submit its budget for the upcoming 2025-2026 fiscal year, meaning that no levy rate has been approved and that the town will not be able to levy or collect property taxes for the fiscal year.
Public transportation service expanding into Tucker County
Erwin said that Terra Alta and all other municipalities were required to submit their budgets by March 28. He added that under §11-8-9 of the West Virginia State Code, the State Auditor may allow late budgets to be submitted between April 15 and May 1, but only if 'good cause' is shown. Because Terra Alta didn't do that, despite receiving a certified letter from the auditor's office, a levy rate or budget for the town can not be approved.
According to Erwin, if the town never submits a budget, the State Tax Department and county assessors may take action, including things like excluding Terra Alta from county tax rolls.
12 News reached out to officials in Terra Alta by both phone and email, but has yet to receive a response as of this publication.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
