West Virginia
Opinion | West Virginia’s Tax-Cut Crossroads
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice
Picture:
Chris Jackson/Related Press
West Virginia lawmakers need their state to turn into a vacation spot for folks and funding, and GOP Gov.
Jim Justice
has proposed a serious tax minimize to assist. However he’s going to have to beat misguided opposition from the Republican Legislature.
Mr. Justice’s plan would minimize West Virginia’s high income-tax charge to three.25% from 6.5%. The complete discount would section in by way of 2025, starting with a 30% minimize this yr. “It would take us three years to tug it off,” Mr. Justice stated in his State of the State tackle. “However completely it’s that aggressive pathway that may completely put unbelievable cash proper again into all of our pockets.”
The proposal is formidable, nevertheless it isn’t radical by any measure. The speed minimize would assist the state compete for funding with its neighbors, a lot of which have additionally slashed charges. West Virginia’s present 6.5% high charge is greater than these within the 5 states that encompass it. That features Ohio (3.99%) and Kentucky (5%), which have handed cuts since 2021, in addition to Virginia (5.75%), which is contemplating a minimize.
That’s why the GOP-led state Home handed the plan final month, 95-2. But the invoice has faltered within the Senate, regardless that the GOP holds 31 of 34 seats.
The opposition is led by Senate finance committee chairman
Eric Tarr
and Senate president
Craig Blair.
“It’s unsafe for your loved ones, since you’re going to now financial institution on a rise in income,” Mr. Tarr says. “Then a future legislature goes to have to return and say, ‘Oops, we’re going to have to return and lift taxes someplace.’”
That’s the same old line from politicians who wish to preserve extra income for themselves, nevertheless it doesn’t wash in West Virginia as we speak. The Mountain State completed fiscal 2022 with a report $1.3 billion surplus, which equals about 28% of deliberate spending for 2023. The state’s financial system is benefiting from excessive costs and demand for coal and pure gasoline, however the state must diversify its financial system for the longer term.
Mr. Justice’s tax invoice units apart $700 million for a reserve fund to assist with any income downturn. That’s on high of the state’s almost $1 billion wet day fund. “In years previous we haven’t had billions of {dollars} of surplus,” Mr. Justice advised the press not too long ago, saying the time is true to return funds to taxpayers.
The GOP Senate handed its personal plan this month backed by Mr. Blair, who doesn’t wish to give Mr. Justice a political victory. The Senate plan cuts earnings taxes by 15%, whereas providing a hodgepodge of rebates, corresponding to subsidies for veterans’ properties and small-business tools. These provisions would draw far much less funding and lots of fewer new residents than the Governor’s plan, which is why Mr. Justice has gone on the street to pitch his 50% minimize to voters.
The tax-cut dispute comes at an optimistic second for West Virginia’s financial system. Although nonetheless the Forty ninth-ranked state by earnings, it drew extra home migrants than it misplaced final yr, for the primary time in a decade. The Governor and Senate will proceed to speak and a compromise is probably going. However the Governor’s plan would do way more to boost incomes and put together the state’s financial system to outlive the left’s battle on fossil fuels.
Copyright ©2022 Dow Jones & Firm, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8
Appeared within the February 21, 2023, print version.
West Virginia has added a commitment from Eastern Michigan wide receiver transfer Oran Singleton.
Singleton is coming off a season where he hauled in 64 catches for 639 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He also had 23 rushing yards on 6 carries.
The Florida native started his career at Akron but transferred to Hutchinson C.C.
He has one year of eligibility remaining in his career.
WVSports.com will have more with Singleton in the near future.
Morgantown, WV – West Virginia senior guard Javon Small scored a game-high 19 points while senior center Eduardo Andre put in a Mountaineer career-best 14 points and senior guard Tobi Okani recorded a double double with 13 points and 12 rebounds as the Mountaineers (9-2) extended their winning streak to five with a 67-4 win over the Mercyhurst Lakers (6-9) Sunday afternoon.
Mercyhurst took the early lead, but West Virginia responded with a 7-0 run, ignited with a three from freshman guard Jonathan Powell, and forced Lakers head coach Gary Manchel to take a timeout.
Lakers senior forward Jeff Planutis buried a three out of the break to get back within two. The Mountaineers answered with another 7-0 run with Javon Small opening the run with a midrange jumper and Toby Okani finishing with a backdoor to cut to the rim to cap it off for the 16-7 lead at the 12:27 mark of the first half.
West Virginia struggled to pull away from a Mercyhurst program that jumped up to the Division I level over the summer and did not grab a double-digit lead until 5:50 left in the half after a jumper from senior guard Joseph Yesufu.
Eduardo Andre gave the Mountaineers their largest first half lead of 14, and the final field goal of the half, for his nine first half points with 3:32 remaining until halftime as the Mountaineers took a 35-22 lead into the break.
After West Virginia went up 16 to begin the second half, Mercyhurst dwindled the Mountaineers lead to nine with a 7-0 run, led by Aidan Reichert putting in the final five consecutive points.
West Virginia broke the game open with a 15-0 run midway through the second half with Toby Okani lead the way with six points as the Mountaineers took a 54-32 lead and coasted to a 67-46 victory.
West Virginia
Humanities Council’s traveling exhibition, ‘Born of Rebellion: West Virginia’s Statehood and the Civil War,’ on display in Bluefield
PRESS RELEASE:
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Humanities Council’s flagship traveling exhibition, Born of Rebellion: West Virginia Statehood and the Civil War, is now on display at the Paine Gallery at the Bluefield Arts Center from now until February 3. Hours and information are available at www.barcwv.org.
This comprehensive, large-scale experience covers sectional tensions within Virginia preceding the Civil War, the violence and chaos of the war surrounding West Virginia’s formation and the difficult aftermath as the new state struggled to forge its destiny during Reconstruction. Born of Rebellion explores this tumultuous and complex era from a wide range of perspectives, including politicians, common soldiers, women and African Americans. Not simply a story of war and politics, Born of Rebellion conveys the complexities and pitfalls that accompanied West Virginia’s arduous journey to separation from Virginia.
“It has been such a pleasure working with Bluefield Arts and Revitalization Corporation to get Born of Rebellion in Mercer County for the holidays,” said Council Program Officer Kyle Warmack. “The Paine Gallery is a perfect display space for the exhibit, and we hope its time here provokes discussion about this part of West Virginia’s experience during the war and our journey to statehood.”
For more information about Born of Rebellion, visit wvhumanities.org and click “Traveling Exhibits” under the Programs menu. For more about the Paine Gallery, its hours of operation and other visitor information, please contact the Bluefield Arts & Revitalization Corporation at (304) 589-0239.
The West Virginia Humanities Council, an independent nonpartisan nonprofit, is the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. The Council is supported by the NEH, the State of West Virginia and contributions from the private sector. The purposes of the West Virginia Humanities Council are educational, and its mission is to support a vigorous program in the humanities statewide in West Virginia.
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