West Virginia
Justice, West Virginia Lawmakers Reach Deal on 2% Income Tax Cut Proposal
photo by: W.Va. Legislative Photography
State Senate Minority Leader Mike Woelfel, D-Cabell, asks questions Monday about a compromise between Republican legislative leaders and Gov. Jim Justice for a personal income tax cut.
CHARLESTON — Gov. Jim Justice and the West Virginia Legislature appear to be moving toward a reduced version of the governor’s proposed personal income tax cut.
The House Finance Committee recommended House Bill 237, relating to the personal income tax, for passage to the full House Monday afternoon. The state Senate passed its version, Senate Bill 2033, in a 31-0 vote Monday afternoon, setting up a possible final vote today.
“Regardless of what the percentage is, we recognize that we have got funds available to give back to the citizens of West Virginia,” said House Finance Committee Chairman Vernon Criss, R-Wood, following Monday’s House floor session.
“I thank the governor’s staff for working with us to make sure we had room in future budgets to be able to offset where these tax cuts come from in a responsible manner,” said Senate Finance Committee Chairman Eric Tarr, R-Putnam.
Justice issued an amended proclamation earlier Monday with eight new bills, a concurrent resolution, and a change his proposal for a 5% personal income tax cut to a 2% cut.
Justice first called for a 5% personal income tax cut in July following the end of fiscal year 2024.However, some lawmakers expressed concerns over the last several weeks about the state general revenue budget being able to afford the loss of tax revenue beginning in fiscal year 2026 next July 2025.
During his weekly administration briefing last week, Justice signaled that he would be willing to accept less than the 5% personal income tax cut he proposed.
A 2% cut in personal income tax rates would return approximately $46 million to taxpayers when fully implemented. The tax cut would go into effect in January at the start of the 2025 tax year along with a 4% personal income tax cut due to the state meeting the requirements of a trigger mechanism and formula allowing for personal income tax cuts up to 10% every year. The 4% personal income tax will return approximately $92 million to taxpayers when fully implemented.
“I think our taxpayers are hurting,” said Department of Revenue Secretary Larry Pack to the House Finance Committee during testimony when asked why the tax cut is needed now. “Inflation has been absolutely crushing people, so we’re doing everything we can to help people and our taxpayers as quick as we can as long as we can do it in a prudent fashion.”
With the passage of House Bill 225, that will take the total percentage of personal income tax cuts since 2023 during Justice’s administration to 27.25% and return more than $626 million to taxpayers by fiscal year 2026. Personal income tax collections of more than $2.2 billion made up nearly 40% of the state’s $5.7 billion in general revenue collections in fiscal year 2024.
HB 237 would also delay the effective date of the next personal income tax trigger put in place by the 2023 tax reform package. When the Department of Revenue determines the next personal income tax cut in August based on the trigger and formula, instead of that tax cut going into effect in tax year 2026, it would go into effect in tax year 2027.
In order to pay for the $46 million loss in personal income tax revenue from the 2% cut, $19 million will come when a revenue bond is paid off soon. The remaining $27 million will come from cost savings ongoing from the reorganization of the Department of Health and Human Resources into the departments of Health, Human Services, and Health Facilities.
While the three-member Senate Democratic caucus voted for the bill, Senate Minority Leader Mike Woelfel, D-Cabell, raised concerns about passing a tax cut in an election year when a new governor and new legislature will take their seats next year. Justice is the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, facing Democratic former Wheeling mayor Glenn Elliott.
“At the 11th hour, we’re going to find this money, we’re going to cut a tax, and we’re going to hamstring, it seems to me, the new governor…(Justice) won’t even be here,” Woelfel said. “There are a fair number of people in this room who are not going to be here in January…Why are we making the decision in October when we will reconvene in January?”
Other items on Justice’s second amended special session proclamation included: allowing funding for certain federally funded broadband expansion programs to come from the state Economic Development Authority; providing supplemental appropriations for West Virginia University, Marshall University, Concord University, Shepherd University, and New River Community and Technical College; providing $5 million for the Department of Health for statewide EMS program support; and providing $175,000 for the West Virginia State Police for repairs and refurbishment of helicopters.
Other added bills included: legislation transferring the powers and duties of the state Municipal Bond Commission to the State Treasurer’s Office; rules dealing with the issuing of refunding bonds and general obligation bonds; relating to fees and charges for municipality provided fire services; and a bill transferring funds from the State Treasurer’s Office to the Governor’s Civil Contingency Fund for additional funding for deferred maintenance at state colleges and universities.
One concurrent resolution added to the amended special session calls for honoring the late U.S. Marine Corps veteran and Gold Star Family advocate Hershel “Woody” Williams as one of two West Virginia statues in the National Statuary Hall collection at the U.S. Capitol Building.
Three bills completed legislative action Monday: appropriating $15.7 million to the Adjutant General’s office of the West Virginia National Guard for capital outlay, repairs, and equipment, the state Military Authority, and the Recruit WV employment program; appropriating $87 million to the Public Employees insurance Agency for its reserve fund to abide by State Code that requires PEIA to maintain a reserve of 10% of the projected plan expenses; and appropriating $13.7 million to the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine for building renovations.
West Virginia
Texas Tech, Iowa State and West Virginia carrying the banner for holdovers in new-look Big 12
STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) — Texas Tech leads several holdover programs standing tall in the new-look Big 12.
The conference has added eight schools the past two years, and several are affecting the race to reach the title game. But longtime members Tech, Iowa State and West Virginia are carrying the banner for the old guard, joining newcomers Colorado and BYU as unbeaten teams in conference play.
Texas Tech defeated Arizona 28-22 last Saturday to improve to 3-0 in the league. The Red Raiders’ conference wins have been by a combined 17 points, but those victories have them alone at the top of the standings. They have a week off before they host Baylor.
“We got to the bye, we put ourselves in a good position,” Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire said. “We’ve got to get healthy. We’ve got to fix some things, you know, and then we’ve got to go 1-0. … You can’t get ahead of your head of yourself. You’ve got to be in the moment.”
In 1996, four Texas schools from the old Southwest Conference and the Big 8 members merged to form the Big 12. Iowa State from the Big 8 and Texas Tech from the Southwest joined the Big 12 in its inaugural year. West Virginia joined the league in 2012.
None of the three have claimed a Big 12 title, but their chances of finally breaking through increased significantly when Texas and Oklahoma left for the Southeastern Conference in July. No. 1 Texas and No. 18 Oklahoma meet in Dallas on Saturday in a game that usually had Big 12 title implications.
Now, Iowa State at West Virginia has title implications, with both off to 2-0 starts in the league. Iowa State — at No. 11, the highest-ranked team in the Big 12 this season — rolled past Baylor 43-21 last Saturday while West Virginia knocked off Oklahoma State 38-14.
Iowa State’s offense has leaned on quarterback Rocco Becht. He’s passed for 1,173 yards and nine touchdowns this season.
Cyclones coach Matt Campbell said Becht is making smart decisions.
“It’s great to have great targets to throw to, but I think the ability to have the poise in the moment and be able to read the entire field … the thing that’s been fun about those — it’s not the first read, it’s the second, third or fourth read in the progression,” Campbell said. “It tells you his moxie and his growth.”
Iowa State leads the Big 12 in total defense, allowing just 271.6 yards per game.
West Virginia is fueled by a ground game that ranks third in the conference with 223 yards per game. Quarterback Garrett Greene and running backs C.J. Donaldson and Jahiem White have been a dangerous triple threat. The Mountaineers ran for 389 yards and had the ball for nearly 44 minutes on Saturday.
Oklahoma State entered the season as one of the favorites in the conference. The Cowboys have been tough to beat at home under coach Mike Gundy the past two decades, so the win was important to the Mountaineers.
“Against a team like this — even though the season may not be going for them like they would like it to, for us to come out like that for a full 60 minutes and play the way we did — that adds a lot of confidence, especially going to next week’s game with a really good team,” West Virginia linebacker Josiah Trotter said.
All three of Texas Tech’s Big 12 wins have come against newer conference members — Arizona State, Cincinnati and, most recently, Arizona on the road last Saturday.
Tahj Brooks leads the conference with 679 yards rushing, good for 135.8 yards per game. He ran for 128 yards and three touchdowns against Arizona. The Red Raiders are third in the league with 460.5 total yards per game.
The number that matters most to McGuire is the record.
“There have been dogfights,” the Texas Tech coach said. “I think that’s how the Big 12 is going to be every single week. And then we’ll be right there as far as, Iike — I mean, we’re OK playing these one-score games, and we’re going to play for four quarters.”
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West Virginia
What to know about Saturday’s Iowa State vs West Virginia football game. Time, TV schedule
Iowa State football coach Matt Campbell on Jaylon Jackson, Caden Matson
Iowa State football coach Matt Campbell talks about Jaylon Jackson’s two-touchdown performance and Caden Matson, who returned a blocked punt for a touchdown.
The Iowa State football team plays at West Virginia Baylor on Saturday. The Big 12 Conference game is scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m. CT.
Iowa State is 5-0 overall and 2-0 in the Big 12 after beating Baylor 43-21 on Saturday in Ames. West Virginia is 3-2 overall and 2-0 in the Big 12 after a 38-14 win at Oklahoma State on Saturday.
Here’s what you need to know about Saturday’s Iowa State vs. West Virginia matchup.
Watch Iowa State vs West Virginia on Fubo (free trial)
How to watch Iowa State vs West Virginia football
TV: FOX
Streaming: FoxSports.com or Fubo (free trial)
Radio: Cyclone Radio Network
What time does the Iowa State vs West Virginia football game start?
Time: 7 p.m. CT, Saturday, Oct. 12
Location: Milan Puskar Stadium, Morgantown, W. Va.
What are the betting odds for Iowa State vs West Virginia?
Betting line: Iowa State is favored by 3 points
O/U: 51.5
Odds by BetMGM
A closer look at Iowa State and West Virginia
- IOWA STATE: Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel led Iowa State’s electric passing attack against Baylor. Higgins had eight catches for 116 yards, and Noel five catches for 98 yards. Rocco Becht was 16-of-25 passing for 277 yards and two touchdowns. Jaylon Jackson had a career day with 107 yards on the ground. Carson Hansen added 97.
- WEST VIRGINIA: West Virginia was very impressive on the road, rushing for 389 yards as a team and holding Oklahoma State to just 36. Jahiem White had 158 rushing yards to lead the Mountaineers. Garrett Greene added 86 yards on the ground, and CJ Donaldson Jr. was next with 77. West Virginia finished with 31 first downs and held the Cowboys to 11.
Required reading for Iowa State football fans
Iowa State’s 2024 football schedule
- Aug. 31: vs. North Dakota, (W, 21-3)
- Sept. 7: at Iowa, 2:30 p.m. (W, 20-19)
- Sept. 21: vs. Arkansas State, (W, 52-7)
- Sept. 28: at Houston, (W, 20-0)
- Oct. 5: vs. Baylor, (W, 43-21)
- Oct. 12: at West Virginia, 7:00 p.m. CT
- Oct. 19: vs. UCF, 6:30 p.m. CT
- Nov. 2: vs. Texas Tech
- Nov. 9: at Kansas
- Nov. 16: vs. Cincinnati
- Nov. 23: at Utah
- Nov. 30: vs. Kansas State
We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) – Monday is day three of a special session at the West Virginia State Capitol.
It involves the top item — a tax cut for your family.
House and Senate Finance leaders tell WSAZ that Governor Jim Justice is prepared to send a revised tax cut proposal to lawmakers.
Delegates are scheduled to receive the new proposal during its midday floor session.
Senate finance chairman Eric Tarr tells WSAZ the new proposal will be less than the five percent the governor originally proposed.
Tarr could not disclose specifics, but says he believes it is a proposal that lawmakers can agree upon.
If approved, it would be on top of a four percent cut already slated to hit your paycheck in January 2025 and a 21.25 percent cut received in 2023.
Those cuts were passed as part of a package that reduces the state’s income tax at the speed of economic growth.
Tarr had been among lawmakers concerned the state could not pay for the original five percent proposal.
He had worried about the cost noting other tax cuts and new spending that would soon hit the state’s budget.
Gov. Jim Justice issued a proclamation on Monday amending his original call for the West Virginia Legislature to convene in Special Session, adding several new items for consideration.
Some of the additional items include:
- A two percent reduction in the personal income tax.
- A resolution to honor Hershel “Woody” Williams with a statue in the National Statuary Hall Collection.
- Funding for certain federally-funded broadband expansion programs to come from the West Virginia Economic Development Authority.
- Supplemental funding for West Virginia University, Marshall University, Concord University, Shepherd University, and New River Community and Technical College.
- The allocation of $5 million for statewide EMS program support.
This is a developing story.
Keep checking the WSAZ app for the latest information.
Copyright 2024 WSAZ. All rights reserved.
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