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May 13, 2022 by
Proposed Property Tax Amendment Could Jeopardize Local Excess and Bond Levies

This fall, West Virginians will vote on a proposed constitutional amendment to give the state legislature the authority to exempt most business personal property and personal vehicles from the property tax, potentially costing local governments hundreds of millions in lost revenue. Property tax levies (including excess and bond levies) provide critical revenue for local services…

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December 1, 2015 by
Appalachia Grasps for Hope as Coal Loses its Grip

Associated Press, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Pune Mirror, WRAL.com - The seams of coal in some McDowell County mines are so thin that workers can barely squeeze them down. Eddie Asbury, 66, owns the mines, but still does everything himself. In order to keep business operating with such a paltry amount of coal, Asbury has discarded the…

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May 10, 2024 by
SNAP Restrictions Fail to Connect Vulnerable Residents to Work While Straining Charitable Food Providers

In July 2023, West Virginia reimplemented pre-pandemic time limits for some adults receiving food assistance via the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The time limits apply to adults between 18 and 52 (up to 54 in September 2024) without a documented disability and without children under 18 in the household, often referred to as “able-bodied…

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November 22, 2019 by
Another Proposed SNAP Rule Threatens Food Security for West Virginia Families

Last month, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Trump Administration unveiled their third attack in a year on the nation's nutrition safety net, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This latest proposal would essentially force families to choose between paying their utilities and putting food on the table. The proposed rule, which…

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March 24, 2023 by
Health Policy, the Social Safety Net, and the 2023 Legislative Session

West Virginia has long faced significant health-related challenges, many of which could have been meaningfully addressed by bills introduced during the 2023 legislative session. While a couple of positive health-focused bills were passed by the legislature this year, unfortunately lawmakers focused much of their attention on health-related policies based on fear—not facts.  Two bills that…

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May 19, 2023 by
Don’t Hold West Virginians Hostage: Pass a Clean Debt Ceiling Increase

Congress is currently negotiating an increase in the "debt ceiling," which must be raised to prevent catastrophic economic consequences. Previously Congress has always acted when called upon to raise the debt limit. Since 1960, Congress has acted 78 separate times to permanently raise, temporarily extend, or revise the definition of the debt limit – 49…

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May 8, 2015 by
Budget Beat – May 8, 2015

Second Meeting Held to Look at Tax Overhaul The history of West Virginia's previous efforts to overhaul its tax system and an overview of tax breaks going back over 100 years were on Monday's agenda of the Joint Select Committee of Tax Reform. Speakers included Revenue Secretary Bob Kiss and Deputy Secretary Mark Muchow at…

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June 15, 2012 by
May Continues Disappointing Job Trends

Putnamlive.com -- West Virginia saw its total nonfarm employment fall for the fourth straight month, losing 1,900 jobs between April and May, according to a news release from Jobs Count. Read

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