Tax and Budget

March 28, 2022 by Sean O'Leary
Fiscal Year 2023 West Virginia Budget Recap

Earlier this month, Governor Justice approved the budget passed by the West Virginia Legislature at the end of the 2022 legislative session. Very little in the budget was changed from the flat budget proposed by the governor at the beginning of the legislative session. While appropriations from the base budget (which includes the General Revenue…

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March 21, 2022 by Kelly Allen
Governor Vetoes Millions the House Intended for a Tax Cut, Riling Some Delegates

West Virginia MetroNews - When delegates were discussing whether to embrace a $4.65 billion general revenue budget along with another possible billion dollars in surplus spending, one aspect of their focus was whether the governor would accept a House priority: setting aside $265 million as savings to prepare for income tax reductions down the line.…

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March 15, 2022 by Kelly Allen
Billion Dollars in Anticipated Surplus is a Windfall, and a Big Target of Questions

West Virginia MetroNews - West Virginia lawmakers passed a $4.65 billion general revenue budget at the end of their regular session. Tacked onto that was another billion dollars in possible spending, an unprecedented amount on the strength of federal relief dollars. Read the full article. There are always additional funding items as a sort of…

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March 8, 2022 by Kelly Allen
Public Hearing Highlights Concerns About Bill that Would Set Up Mining Mutual Insurance Company with $50M in Taxpayer Money

Charleston Gazette-Mail - A bill nearing passage in the West Virginia House of Delegates that would set up an insurance company with $50 million in taxpayer money to provide alternative bonding for coal mine operators drew opposition from nearly all speakers at a public hearing Monday. Read the full article. Environmentalists and other concerned citizens…

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March 4, 2022 by Sean O'Leary
February Revenue Surplus Supported by Low Estimate, High Severance Revenue

Charleston Gazette-Mail, Williamson Daily News - The State of West Virginia exceeded its monthly revenue estimate for February by more than $59 million, according to a report from the Senate Finance Committee. Read the full article. The excess in revenue continues to be built on a foundation of historically lowered revenue expectations, as has become…

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February 23, 2022 by WVCBP
New Brief Examines WV’s Temporary Budget Surplus, FY 2023 Proposed Budget Allocations and Implications

For Immediate Release: February 23, 2022Contact: Renee Alves, 559-916-5939 Charleston, WV – For the second year in a row, Governor Jim Justice has proposed a “flat” budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023, with only minor changes from the FY 2022 budget. While the state is currently enjoying large budget surpluses, those surpluses are the result of billions in federal…

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February 23, 2022 by Sean O'Leary
Flat Budgets, Flat Expectations: The West Virginia Fiscal Year 2023 Budget Proposal

Overview Read the full brief. For the second year in a row, Governor Jim Justice has proposed a “flat” budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023, with only minor changes from the FY 2022 budget. While the state is currently enjoying large budget surpluses, those surpluses are the result of billions in federal aid, artificially low…

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February 16, 2022 by WVCBP
Kathleen Stoll: Use Caution Before Stampeding Ahead on Tax Cuts (Opinion)

Charleston Gazette-Mail - The West Virginia legislative session reminds me of the Wild West. You never know what magic-show patent medicine will be hawked, or what bills will stampede through the committee corrals. Read the full op-ed. I own six horses. Any warm spell means it’s time to saddle up. But, before throwing a saddle…

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February 16, 2022 by WVCBP
This Would Be a Fascinating Way to Ensure Accountability

The News-Herald - I’ve written many times about the concept; about the relationship between accountability and responsibility, for example. Read the full op-ed. Unfortunately, too often we need to use the word in tandem with the phrase “lack of.” Which is best exemplified by what we often see — or don’t see — from our…

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February 15, 2022 by Kelly Allen, Sean O'Leary
Artificially Low Revenue Estimates Will Accelerate Proposed Tax Cuts for the Wealthy Even as State Programs are Denied Needed Resources

West Virginia is one of very few states where revenue estimates are made by the governor alone. Official revenue estimates determine the total size of the state budget, and lawmakers cannot exceed the official estimates when funding state agencies and programs. Governor Justice’s administration seems to be exploiting that power by setting flat budgets year…

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