MOUNDSVILLE – Coal companies have filed a petition alleging that their mineral appraisals were assessed above their true and actual value.
Murray Energy Corp., Consolidated Coal Co., Ohio Coal Company and CCC RCPC LLC filed a petition for appeal in Marshall Circuit Court against Dale W. Steager, West Virginia state tax commissioner; The County Commission of Marshall County; and Christopher J. Kessler, assessor of Marshall County.
According to the complaint, the state tax commissioner filed natural resource property valuation variables for the 2017 tax year in January 2016 with the state steam coal price of $58.15 per ton. The plaintiffs allege the average price per ton of steam coal is below that price, and state the market price in July 2016 was $31.50 per ton.
The plaintiffs seek order the defendant to introduce appropriate evidence as the true and actual value of the real property, order to fix the property at its true and actual value and any further relief this court grants. They are represented by Mark Gaydos and Buddy Turner of McNeer, Highland, McMunn and Varner LC in Kingwood. The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge David W. Hummel Jr.
Marshall Circuit Court case number 17-C-241-H