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Mergers of cities and counties in West Virginia may be a tough sell in some parts of the state, but the members of the West Virginia Council for Community and Economic Development agreed on Monday to back the work of Sen. Brooks McCabe, D-Kanawha and others that would allow county-county, city-city or county-city mergers.
McCabe is pushing legislation that would allow mergers and consolidations easier. He has said West Virginia needs to "globalize."
McCabe has said local government leaders and residents must be convinced of the benefits of merging, mostly to save money and streamline services.
The senator said he is confident legislators will approve the merger framework this spring.
The plan, championed by McCabe and others on the Commission on Governing for the 21st Century, will discourage the next generation of West Virginians from leaving the state.
"These incremental changes, these baby steps along the way, don't work," he said. "We've never convinced ourselves that we can truly compete globally. Some of us believe that, but not collectively."
The plan is to create metro or regional areas that have larger populations that get more attention, outside companies would take more notice when considering locating in West Virginia.
Although the legislation would allow cities and counties to merge -- as Louisville and Jefferson County did in Kentucky -- McCabe stressed the possibility of counties consolidating, with emphasis on Kanawha, Putnam and Cabell, and Marion, Monongalia and Harrison.
Rural counties that have have low populations and have problems with their finances could become part of the metro areas.
The legislation would make it easier for rural counties to self-determine what direction they go.
For example Calhoun could merge with Roane County, or maybe it could merge with Gilmer and Clay.
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