skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Friday, June 13, 2025

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Tensions over L.A. immigration sweeps boil over as Padilla is tackled, ICE arrests pick up; IN residents watch direction of Trump spending bill amid state budget cuts; More than two dozen 'No Kings' events planned Saturday across Montana.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Democrats demand answers on CA Sen. Padilla's handcuffing and removal from a DHS news conference. Defense Secretary Hegseth defends the administration's protest response as preventative, and Trump vows protests of Saturday's military parade will be met with "heavy" force.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

EV charging stations are harder to find in rural America, improving the mental health of children and teachers is the goal of a new partnership in seven rural states, and a once segregated Mississippi movie theater is born again.

Suits Over Marcellus Property Taxes Could Clobber Schools, Counties

play audio
Play

Thursday, April 5, 2018   

CHARLESTON, W. Va. — A pair of cases before the West Virginia Supreme Court over gas well property taxes could be "devastating" to local governments and schools.

Antero Resources won its cases in Doddridge County Circuit Court, but the implications could extend statewide or industry-wide. The company said tax offices aren't letting them deduct true post-production expenses for Marcellus wells.

Doddridge County Commission President Greg Robinson said the ruling could cut school funding by more than $4.5 million, and under the state's school aid formula, public education really depends on what were strong revenues from those taxes.

"Doddridge County gets $0 from the state of West Virginia,” Robinson said. “So obviously, that's going to be potentially devastating to the county."

According to one court filing, in 2017 state rules said Antero could deduct no more than $175,000 per well. The company argued the actual cost of transport, pipelines and keeping the wells running after they were drilled was between $650,000 and $1 million a year.

Robinson said the cases could reduce county and school revenues by about 15 percent. He said they had already started on an $80 million plan to get more than two-thirds of county residents connected to public water.

"We're moving on that,” he said. “Of course, if we have no money to do the engineering or whenever a match is required, then that will have to come to an end."

He said depending on what the court does, the county hopes to negotiate a solution with the company. But Robinson said one way or another, they will have to adjust.

"It would be very good if this could be equitably resolved amongst the parties,” he said. “But if it's not, I guess we'll all have to live with the results from the Supreme Court."

A final decision could come in May or June.

The case numbers are 17-AA-1 and 17-AA-3.



get more stories like this via email

more stories
A single Abercrombie dairy facility will house 12,500 cows. Combined with the planned 25,000-cow Herberg site, these two operations will generate manure equivalent to that of a city of 1.5 million. (Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

North Dakota is facing growing opposition to two massive dairy operations planned near the Red River. Environmental advocates say the projects could …


Social Issues

play sound

Next Monday marks the beginning of "PROTECT" week, when AARP helps seniors learn the signs of financial fraud. Experts say Maryland seniors can …

Environment

play sound

As World Sea Turtle Day approaches on Monday, an expert explains threats to sea turtles and their ecological importance along the coasts of the …


Total Medicaid spending in Indiana in fiscal year 2022 was $17 billion, with the federal government paying 75% of the costs. (Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

play sound

As Congress reviews budget slashes to health care in President Donald Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," a new evaluation from the nonpartisan Cong…

Environment

play sound

California took a big step Tuesday toward the goal of conserving 30% of land and waters by 2030. The Ocean Protection Council adopted a roadmap to …

Health and Wellness

play sound

Nevadans with disabilities are concerned with proposed federal cuts to Medicaid, despite claims from GOP lawmakers that the cuts target only waste…

Environment

play sound

Thousands of Kentucky families face utility disconnections this summer, and the latest budget reconciliation bill would eliminate the Low-Income Home …

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021