WVCBP in the News

February 5, 2021 by WVCBP
Pandemic Exposes Social Disparities Inside Appalachia

West Virginia Public Broadcasting - The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed and exacerbated societal inequities. Read the full article. Black and Latino populations have suffered higher infection rates. People working low-income jobs are more likely to be considered essential — and therefore required to work in-person — while others have the luxury of working remotely. The…

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January 30, 2021 by Quenton King
Crowded Jails Costing Counties More Than They can Pay

Charleston Gazette-Mail - West Virginia is incarcerating more people than its regional jail system is meant to hold, and it is costing some county governments more money than they can pay. Read the full article. At least 10 counties in West Virginia are more than 90 days past due on a combined $9 million in…

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January 28, 2021 by WVCBP
Criminal Justice Reform Summit Focusing on Legislative Goals

West Virginia MetroNews - With the 2021 legislative session in West Virginia just weeks away, criminal justice reform is being discussed and priorities are taking shape during a summit in West Virginia. Read the full article. American Friends Service Committee, WV Council of Churches, WV Center on Budget and Policy, ACLU-WV, and Appalachian Prison Book…

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January 28, 2021 by WVCBP
Groups Ask West Virginia Lawmakers to Commit to ‘Open’ Legislative Session

WV News - A coalition of 40 organizations from around the state are calling on West Virginia lawmakers to commit to holding an open and transparent legislative session. Read the full article. In a letter sent to the Democratic and Republican leadership teams in the House of Delegates and state Senate, the groups urge legislators…

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January 23, 2021 by WVCBP
Rick Wilson: Eliminating WV Income Tax Would be Disastrous

Charleston Gazette-Mail - Some of West Virginia’s political leaders want to abolish the state income tax. One has even said doing so would help bring 400,000 new people to live in West Virginia. Read the full article. If memory serves, some of the same people predicted that abolishing the state’s prevailing wage for workers on public…

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January 20, 2021 by Sean O'Leary
What Will The Next Year Look Like For W.Va.’s Economy?

WV Public Broadcasting - The COVID-19 pandemic devastated the economy across much of the world and the country, including West Virginia. But, economists are hopeful for recovery with the rollout of the vaccine, pointing to early signs of a rebound across several sectors and a prediction for full recovery to pre-pandemic levels next year. Read…

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January 17, 2021 by WVCBP
Regional Jail Fees Weigh Heavy on Counties

Dominion Post - Counties in West Virginia are responsible for a lot of bills — including the cost of housing inmates from the county being held in regional jails. That makes the 81% increase in inmate population from 2000-2019 a problem for some counties. Read the full article. That population increase was one finding in…

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January 17, 2021 by Kelly Allen
Across the State

WV News - In the midst of a pandemic and an economic recession, politicians in a number of states, including West Virginia, are looking at cutting income taxes this session, panelists in a discussion hosted by the West Virginia Center on Budget & Policy said Thursday. Read the full article. “It’s inexplicable to us. It’s almost…

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January 17, 2021 by Kelly Allen
W.Va. Officials Want to Cut the Income Tax, but it’s a Big Budget Challenge

West Virginia MetroNews - West Virginia’s top elected officials are aiming at phasing out the state income tax, but doing so would be a major lift. Read the full article. The personal income tax represents 43 percent of the General Fund, or $1.97 billion of the base budget this fiscal year. In other words, it…

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