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Since 2015, Marshall County Commissioner Bob Miller has been attempting to convince state legislators to give counties more fiscal flexibility to make improvements linked to economic development. He is trying again this year.
Miller's proposal is somewhat complex, but what it amounts to is this: He wants county commissions, working with boards of education, to be able to use some surplus revenue for infrastructure improvements.
In particular, Miller has his eye on extending Interstate 68 from its current terminus at Morgantown, west to the Ohio River through Marshall County.
State officials have rejected the idea for years, because West Virginia simply does not have enough money for such an endeavor. Even the $1.6 billion in road bonds authorized by voters last year does not permit launching the I-68 project.
Miller's idea is that if counties could devote money not required for other purposes to such projects, there might be a better chance of getting them done.
But Miller's proposal is useful in ways other than helping fund extension of I-68.
In much less sweeping fashion, it could give county commissioners money to support various economic development initiatives.
What happens now when a company looking at a West Virginia site for a facility needs a new access road? If the state cannot fund it, the firm -- and perhaps Mountain State residents who could have gotten jobs at the new business -- are out of luck.
If enacted, Miller's proposal could give counties at least some ability to take care of such needs.
Legislation needed to implement Miller's idea, the Local Powers Act, has been introduced in the state Senate. He told our reporter he is optimistic it will be enacted this year.
Let us hope so. With less pressure over balancing the state budget, lawmakers may be able to devote more time to ideas such as Miller's.
They should. Miller's idea is far from a comprehensive approach to economic development in our state -- but it can help. West Virginians need all the help we can get in creating new jobs.