POLITICS

Morgantown Considers Fee Increase; Cowboys Acquire Caleb Downs

PUBLISHED Apr 23, 2026, 5:25 PM ET

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Morgantown, W.Va. city officials announced a fiscal sustainability public work session scheduled for next Tuesday at 6 p.m. Councilman Mark Downs said the meeting will consider a proposed increase to the current three-dollar-per-week municipal service fee as officials respond to several budget adjustments and multi-year flat revenues averaging about $4 million. Frisco and Arlington-area reporting this week detailed the Dallas Cowboys' activity in the 2026 NFL Draft: on Thursday Dallas traded with Miami to acquire the No. 11 overall pick and selected Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, then later traded down to No. 23 to pick Malachi Lawrence; executives cited defensive needs after the team allowed 30.1 points per game in 2025 and signaled additional Day 2 and Day 3 roster moves scheduled for Saturday.

By James Porter | JQJO News

Timeline of Events

Multi-year period of flat municipal revenues in Morgantown, averaging around $4 million.
Fiscal Year 2027 budget approved earlier this year with subsequent adjustments noted by city officials.
Morgantown council scheduled a fiscal sustainability public work session for next Tuesday at 6 p.m. to discuss the municipal service fee.
During the 2026 NFL Draft on Thursday, Dallas traded with Miami to acquire the No. 11 overall pick and selected Caleb Downs from Ohio State.
Later in the first round Dallas traded down to No. 23 and selected Malachi Lawrence; the team prepares for further selections on Day 2 and Day 3.

News Intelligence

If you're a Morgantown resident, your weekly municipal service fee might go up. This is due to flat revenues and budget adjustments. If you're a Cowboys fan, the team's draft moves show they're serious about improving their defense.

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Who Benefited

The Dallas Cowboys benefited by trading to acquire Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, directly addressing a documented defensive shortfall, while the City of Morgantown may gain additional revenue stability if officials raise the municipal service fee.

Who Impacted

Morgantown residents could face higher weekly municipal fees if the city approves an increase to the $3 service charge; teams and fans experiencing roster turnover saw immediate changes during the 2026 NFL Draft trades.

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