On Wednesday, the Daily Mail reported on the tax incentives offered to Gestamp, the auto parts company that is re-opening the stamping plant in South Charleston. Recently, we looked at the B&O tax incentive, but now with this memo of the agreement between the state and Gestamp, we can take a closer look.  The highlights…
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This month's New York Times article on business tax subsidies has attracted plenty of attention in West Virginia, as our state was listed as second in the nation with $857 per resident given out to attract businesses in the state. While state officials defended the state's use of tax incentives, Phil Kabler in Sunday's Gazette-Mail…
Last weekend, the Senate Finance Committee unveiled and passed their second attempt at a tax cut without discussion or questions and then suspended rules to pass it out of the chamber. The legislation, HB 2526, looks very much like the plan they passed earlier this session (SB 424). Both versions overwhelmingly benefit the wealthy, contain a workaround for the tax cuts rejected…
West Virginia One of Just Eight States Still Cutting Funding for Higher Education Now that the recession is in the past, most states are restoring funding to higher education. West Virginia, however, is still reducing funding, second only to Wyoming, spending 21.6% less per student in FY 2014 than in FY2008, a reduction of over…
While the United States is a low-tax country compared to most industrialized nations, for a majority of Americans it doesn't feel this way. That's largely because private health insurance companies receive a large portion of our income every month. If we sent our money to a publicly run health insurance plan (e.g., Medicare) instead, almost…
For Immediate Release Contact Ted Boettner or Sean O'Leary, 304-720-8682 (Charleston, WV) – With the 2016 Legislative Session now in the rear view mirror, much work lies ahead in the search for solutions to solving the state's budget crisis. Legislators met for their traditional post-session budget negotiations but were not able to come together on…
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…
The West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy is partnering with the West Virginia Council of Churches on Strength in Stability, a digital project telling the stories of West Virginians who were empowered by the security they found by receiving benefits from programs like SNAP and Medicaid. We tell the success stories of those who…
Contact: Ted Boettner, 304-720-8682 or 304-590-3454 (cell), tboettner@wvpolicy.org Read report Report Also Explores Structure and Importance of Child Care Assistance –Every day in West Virginia, thousands of working families rely on public child care assistance so they can keep the jobs they need to support their families while also providing a safe and reliable environment…
It took a special session but lawmakers successfully balanced this year's budget as the clock was running out. A mixture of Rainy Day funds, budget cuts, and an increase in the tobacco tax filled the gap. They did not, however, provide a long-term solution and West Virginia will face a similar situation next year. How…