WCHS - Two bills have been introduced to address West Virginia’s income tax debate. Both eventually eliminate the state's income tax, which counts for $2.1 billion of the state’s budget, but do it in very different ways. Read the full article. First, Governor Jim Justice's plan: Lower the state income tax but 60% the first year,…
Tax and Budget
West Virginia MetroNews - The state Senate is considering a resolution that could allow lawmakers to lower personal property taxes, particularly on vehicles. Read the full article. The Senate Judiciary Committee approved the resolution Thursday after about an hour of discussion, and it will now be considered by the Senate Finance Committee. If both houses of the…
The Dominion Post, Yahoo News - The Senate Judiciary gave its approval Thursday to a proposed constitutional amendment that would give the Legislature the power to control personal property tax rates. Opponents worry such a move could blow holes in county budgets and force the counties to raise property tax rates. Read the full article.…
Ten states, including West Virginia, have enacted proposals that cut personal or corporate income taxes at various points in the future, contingent on revenues reaching a certain level or growth rate. While using triggers is often portrayed as fiscally responsible, it is far from it. Lawmakers enacting these drawn out tax cuts typically do not…
West Virginia MetroNews - Both houses of the Legislature have passed a bill that would divert dollars for students leaving public schools for private school or homeschooling. Read the full article. And the governor let go into law without his signature a bill clarifying that strikes against the state by public employees including educators are unlawful. The…
Overview Governor Jim Justice has proposed what he describes as a “flat” budget for FY 2022, with only minor changes from the FY 2021 budget. While the state budget remained stable during the COVID-19 pandemic, that stability relied on tapping reserves, federal stimulus funding, and other temporary measures. The future budget picture remains troubling, with…
Mountain State Spotlight, West Virginia Public Broadcasting - So far, Gov. Jim Justice has been the sole authority spending the $1.25 billion West Virginia received in federal coronavirus relief. Read the full article. Advocates have argued that he hasn’t spent enough of it to address the immediate needs of West Virginians facing the COVID-19 pandemic’s economic…
For Immediate Release: March 15, 2021Contact: Renee Alves, 559-916-5939 Charleston, WV - Last month, Governor Jim Justice proposed what he described as a “flat” budget for FY 2022, with only minor changes from the FY 2021 budget. While the state budget remained stable during the COVID-19 pandemic, that stability relied on tapping reserves, federal stimulus funding, and other temporary…
West Virginia MetroNews - The West Virginia Business & Industry Council is raising concerns that Gov. Jim Justice’s big plan would zoom to the top of the wrong ranking. Read the full article. “West Virginia will have the highest state consumer sales tax in the nation at 7.9 percent,” the broad-based business organization wrote in a…
Multistate - Whenever West Virginia Governor Jim Justice (R) discusses his plan to eliminate his state’s personal income tax, he reiterates two key points: (1) the tax will be a net positive for West Virginia taxpayers and (2) it will lead to significant population growth for the state. To back up his claim, the governor’s…