Tax and Budget

September 1, 2022 by Kelly Allen
Kelly Allen: Amendment 2 an Effort to Stiff Working People (Opinion)

Charleston Gazette-Mail - We observe Labor Day to celebrate the economic and societal achievements of American workers. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, “American labor has raised the nation’s standard of living and contributed to the greatest production the world has ever known, and the labor movement has brought us closer to the realization…

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August 25, 2022 by Sean O'Leary
West Virginia Schools Rely on Voters to Approve Additional Funding. When Residents Vote Down a Levy, Students Suffer

Mountain State Spotlight, Beckley Register-Herald - Steve Wamsley’s Randolph County roots run deep. He’s been principal of Tygarts Valley Middle/High School, south of Elkins, for over a decade. Four generations of his family have attended school there.  Read the full article. The Tygarts Valley community is full of pride. The school’s hallways are decorated with…

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August 17, 2022 by Kelly Allen
Amendment 2 and Tax Cut Efforts Would Exacerbate State Staffing Crises

The real-life consequences of repeatedly enacting flat state budgets are becoming clear across West Virginia in the form of state agency staffing shortages. Just this month, West Virginia Education Association (WVEA) officials warned of record teacher vacancies in the state’s public schools, and Governor Justice declared a state of emergency in the state’s correctional facilities…

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August 15, 2022 by WVCBP
The State Senate Property Tax Plan: A Look at the Pros and Cons

The Dominion Post - Republican state Senators are hopeful that voters will approve Amendment 2 in November and set the Senate GOP tax reduction plan in motion. Read the full article. Four proposed amendments to the state Constitution will be on the ballot. Amendment 2 is called the Property Tax Modernization Amendment. Its official summary…

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August 11, 2022 by Kelly Allen
Kelly Allen: Invest in WV, Instead of Cutting Taxes (Opinion) 

Charleston Gazette-Mail - The West Virginia Legislature’s special session (temporarily) ended last month after the two chambers and the governor failed to agree on which tax cut was the best to prioritize with the state’s historic — and notably fleeting — surplus money. Read the full op-ed. While there was much debate during the session,…

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August 10, 2022 by Sean O'Leary
Senate Plan for Amendment Two Relies on Unrealistic Revenue and Spending Assumptions, Would Quickly Become Unsustainable

Overview Read the full fact sheet. The West Virginia State Senate recently released an outline of a plan to eliminate business personal property taxes and use state revenues to reimburse counties, schools, and municipalities for the hundreds of millions of dollars in property tax revenue that would be lost if Amendment Two or the “Property…

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August 4, 2022 by WVCBP
New Brief Highlights How Passage of Amendment Two Would Put Local Public Services at Risk

For Immediate Release: August 4, 2022 Contact: Renee Alves, 559-916-5939 Charleston, WV – Amendment Two, or the Property Tax Modernization Amendment, will be on the ballot this November for West Virginia voters to consider. If passed, it would amend the constitution to give the state legislature the authority to exempt business machinery and equipment, business inventory, and personal…

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August 4, 2022 by Sean O'Leary
Amendment Two: A Power Grab that Puts Local Public Services at Risk

Overview This fall, West Virginians will vote on amending the state’s constitution to take property taxing authority away from local communities and give increased power to the state legislature, which is expected to pursue a major tax cut for mostly out-of-state businesses if the amendment passes. Read the full issue brief. Amendment Two, or the…

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July 28, 2022 by WVCBP
Income Tax Cut Passes West Virginia House, Heads to Senate

AP, US News, Midland Reporter-Telegram, WV News - The West Virginia House of Delegates on Thursday passed the Republican governor’s plan to reduce the state income tax by 10%, setting up a clash in the Senate, whose president is cold to the idea. Read the full article. The GOP-controlled House supported the bill on a…

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