This week, Governor Justice announced a special session to be held at the end of September to override tax cut triggers enacted as part of the 2023 tax law and slash taxes by an additional $114 million. As we highlighted recently, the proposal ignores realities and defies fiscal responsibility. While policymakers are still learning the…
Tax and Budget
West Virginia MetroNews, Hampshire Review - Gov. Jim Justice announced he’ll call a special session for Sept. 30 for lawmakers to consider tax cuts, support for childcare, and the appropriation of supplemental funds to address other needs in West Virginia. Read the full article. The governor’s announcement came in a three-paragraph news release from his…
Tax filing can be a costly and complicated process for families and small businesses. The reason the system is so complicated is because for years, paid tax preparation corporations have profited by charging families to fulfill their legal obligation to file taxes each year. These companies, including Intuit and H&R Block, have conducted massive lobbying efforts…
West Virginia MetroNews - West Virginia legislative leaders want to hear more about Gov. Jim Justice’s proposal to lower personal income taxes by another 5% — but they also say that tax cut proposal needs to be weighed against other financial pressures. Read the full article. “We’re anxious to see the governor’s plan,” House Speaker…
West Virginia MetroNews, Charleston Gazette-Mail - The West Virginia Legislature and Governor Jim Justice have been effective tax cutters. In 2023, the Legislature passed a bill reducing the state’s five marginal tax rates by 21.25 percent. Read the full article. That law also put in place a formula whereby if certain financial benchmarks were met,…
Weirton Daily Times - Providers and advocates for childcare in West Virginia are pleased funding has been found to hold off a looming shortfall in childcare subsidy funding until the end of the year, but they’re not pleased with how this was communicated. Read the full article. Several childcare advocacy groups rallied Sunday in the…
Beckley Register-Herald, Fayette Tribune - Gov. Jim Justice, as he does, was acting like he did us all a big favor on Thursday when he announced that the state would increase funding for state programs that help pay for in-home care of those who have a difficult time caring for themselves, primarily lonely and homebound…
Beckley Register-Herald, Bluefield Daily Telegraph - A West Virginia organization centered on advocating for children who have been abused or neglected to find them a permanent home now has a base in Raleigh County. Read the full article. In July, Kristi Williams Dumas was named the executive director of CASA of New River, based in…
Associated Press, West Virginia News, Wheeling Intelligencer, Weirton Daily Times, Times West Virginian - West Virginians will see their personal income taxes drop by 4% in the new year, Gov. Jim Justice said. Read the full article. The Republican governor announced Thursday that state revenues had met the threshold to trigger the reduction, set to…
West Virginia lawmakers are under pressure from Governor Justice to override the tax cut triggering mechanism created as part of the 2023 state income tax law and enact additional cuts on his way out the door. But state revenue and budget pressures, including slowing revenues, costly enacted legislation, and a myriad of unmet needs come…