Connect with us

West Virginia

Session is halfway there; tax cut is living on a prayer – WV MetroNews

Press Room

Published

on

Session is halfway there; tax cut is living on a prayer – WV MetroNews


As West Virginia’s common legislative session reaches its midway level this coming week, it’s clear there’s nonetheless a giant hole on Gov. Jim Justice’s high precedence, a 50 p.c private revenue tax discount over three years.

The governor has continued to barnstorm the state to advertise the tax reduce. However an increasing number of, the governor has expressed frustration with the Senate’s Republican majority, saying they’re taking too lengthy to choose a tax reduce.

Jim Justice

Requested about the opportunity of the legislative session ending with out an settlement, Justice mentioned final week that’s an actual chance. Thursday is day 30 of the 60-day common session.

“That not solely is the chance, which may be the technique,” mentioned Justice, a Republican. “From the standpoint of what’s happening on the Senate aspect, it could really be the technique — which might be catastrophic to our individuals. However on the finish of the day, we don’t have something again from the Senate. The Senate says they’ve bought a plan. Nicely, the place’s the plan? The place’s the meat?”

Advertisement

The view from the Senate is totally different. Senate leaders have described a deliberate method to the tax reduce, saying they must get it proper to keep away from future fiscal catastrophe.

Eric Tarr

Senate Finance Chairman Eric Tarr, R-Putnam, mentioned it’s necessary to rigorously assess the consequences of the tax proposal in years to return. The Senate Finance Committee on Friday had a particular listening to to scrutinize every of the numerous supplemental and surplus appropriations proposed for this 12 months’s state finances.

Tarr contends the governor’s actions aren’t serving to.

“The governor must be faraway from the method. I’ve mentioned this earlier than. I believe he’s an obstacle to getting what’s greatest carried out for the state of West Virginia,” Tarr mentioned final week on MetroNews’ “Talkline.”

“I believe this governor is taking a number of the Roman emperor’s view that you simply give them bread and circus and also you rule them eternally. I believe that’s what he’s been doing goes across the state and doing the bread and circus a part of it by passing out issues and letting different issues which might be essential to our state’s wants actually disintegrate.”

Advertisement

Tarr says the Home and Senate might work out the state’s monetary priorities on their very own.

“He’s not wanted on this course of. We have now mega-majorities within the Home and Senate. The one purpose he must be within the course of is for his personal ego, interval. If he would step out of the way in which, I imagine the Home and Senate will get much more manufacturing out of this Legislature,” he mentioned.

The Senate Finance chairman has been involved about coming bills comparable to a declining federal Medicaid match, a monetary time bomb on the Public Workers Insurance coverage Company, pay raises for state workers together with lecturers and corrections officers, growth of the Hope Scholarship for college kids opting out of public faculties and a precedence for extra classroom help at early grade ranges.

Hoppy Kercheval: How Justice and Senate Republicans get to sure

A fiscal notice  assessing the governor’s tax proposal concludes it might lower Normal Income Fund collections by about $161.8 million in fiscal 2023, somewhat greater than $1 billion million in fiscal 2024, $1.2 billion in fiscal 2025, and virtually $1.5 billion in fiscal 2026.

Advertisement

Proper now, West Virginia is working a finances surplus simply shy of a billion {dollars}. However that’s primarily based on a number of components, together with excessive power costs which have produced high-performing severance tax returns and artificially-low state income projections which have enforced comparatively “flat” budgets for a number of years in a row.

Tarr says the spending will increase and tax reduce simply don’t steadiness.

“The numbers are damning,” Tarr mentioned. “It’s as dangerous a factor and reckless as I’ve ever seen, and he doesn’t care as a result of it’s the subsequent governor’s downside.”

The finance chairman is appropriate to be cautious, mentioned Kelly Allen, govt director of the West Virginia Middle for Funds and Coverage. The assume tank concludes the governor’s tax proposal would knock holes within the state finances.

Advertisement
Kelly Allen

“I believe the Senate’s strategy of being far more deliberate is an effective one,” Allen mentioned.

“That is actually main tax reform we’re speaking about, actually main hits to the state finances and with out getting our finances home so as, understanding what expenditures we have to prioritize, understanding issues which might be looming like PEIA, the necessity to make pay extra aggressive for public workers and a number of different priorities, we are able to’t actually assess what impression a giant tax reduce goes to have on our capacity to supply primary providers.”

She mentioned there’s no have to rush towards these main monetary selections.

“I believe the concept we’re below some type of time strain is a foul one. It doesn’t deal with it with the seriousness and financial accountability that it wants,” she mentioned.

Individuals for Prosperity West Virginia, a libertarian-leaning group, has been distributing flyers to help the tax reduce and maintain senators’ ft to the hearth. The flyer urges state residents to contact their senators and “ask them to maintain their promise to enact daring, transformational tax cuts.”

Jason Huffman

Jason Huffman, state director for the group, says persons are responding. “The persons are conscious, and I believe when there’s that a lot grassroots strain, one thing’s bought to interrupt someplace,” Huffman mentioned. “So I believe finally cooler heads will prevail and people will discover a pathway ahead on this.”

Huffman contends the state’s funds are on strong footing. He additionally suggests the massive revenue tax reduce can be a serious financial stimulus. “Once you dump a billion {dollars} again into the fingers of taxpayers, you’re going to see development,” he mentioned.

Advertisement

He mentioned there’s nonetheless loads of time to strike a deal — even when which means going into additional time.

“The fiscal 12 months doesn’t finish till July 1,” he mentioned with each darkish humor and realism. “For the parents paying consideration at residence, we’ve had particular periods within the summertime earlier than. That may be a actual chance, I believe.”





Source link

Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

West Virginia

Jefferson County Schools, law enforcement conduct “evacuation and reunification” drill – WV MetroNews

Press Room

Published

on

Jefferson County Schools, law enforcement conduct “evacuation and reunification” drill – WV MetroNews


LEETOWN, W.Va. — It’s a drill they hope they by no means should do in actual life, however Jefferson County Faculties and native first responders on Friday performed a big scale “evacuation and reunification” drill on the Jefferson County Fairgrounds.

Fifth graders from Wright Denny Intermediate and relations volunteered through the occasion that practiced relocating employees and college students to security and reuniting college students with their households throughout an emergency occasion.

Jefferson County Faculties Public Info Officer Hans Fogle stated native regulation enforcement teamed with the college district to make the drill work.

“This may give us a possibility to stroll by what would occur if we now have to reunite college students with dad and mom and guardians,” Fogle stated.

Advertisement

Jefferson County Sheriff’s Lieutenant Robert Promote was on the Jefferson County Fairgrounds Friday for the occasion.  He stated it was an opportunity to place plans to apply.

“We have now a plan that’s on paper and now it’s the prospect to place it into place.”

Promote, a 20-year veteran of the drive, stated it’s key to get first responders from all through the world concerned.

Brandan Caton, Jefferson County Faculties director of operational security and services, stated “evacuation and reunification” is perhaps vital for any variety of causes.

“If there’s a prepare derailment in Ranson and we have to transfer a faculty or there’s a fireplace throughout the metropolis limits and we have to transfer a faculty due to that hazard–then that is the scenario that we might deal with,” Caton stated. “In a extra violent scenario there can be completely different protocols.”

Advertisement

Jefferson County Deputy Superintendent of Operations Joyce White stated the college system advantages from shut relationships with first responders.

“We’re very blessed in Jefferson County to have such robust and caring regulation enforcement who companion with us in each means attainable,” White stated.

Those that took half within the drill included Charles City Police Division, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Division and the West Virginia Division of Emergency Administration.

PNN Reporter Luke Wiggs contributed to this story. 



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

West Virginia

Ohio boys fall to West Virginia in BACF

Press Room

Published

on

Ohio boys fall to West Virginia in BACF


St. Marys’ Luke Powell makes a transfer with the ball throughout Friday’s Battle Towards Cystic Fibrosis Basketball Basic at Rod Oldham Athletic Heart.
(Photograph by Mike Morrison)

PARKERSBURG — The West Virginia boys All-Stars saved their perfect for final within the twentieth Annual Battle Towards Cystic Fibrosis Basketball Basic Friday evening on the Rod Oldham Athletic Heart.

Main by simply two factors on the finish of the third quarter the Mountaineer squad erupted for 42 factors within the last quarter to blow issues broad open and snap a five-game shedding streak with a 124-103 victory.

Advertisement

West Virginia led by six on the half however couldn’t shake the Buckeye squad as they clung to an 82-80 lead into the ultimate quarter of play.

WV really trailed by some extent late in third earlier than Ritchie County’s Ethan Haught canned a triple for the ultimate bucket of the third quarter.

A 7-2 run to open the ultimate quarter gave West Virginia a seven-point lead however Ohio answered with a two-pointer adopted by a triple from Federal Hocking’s Iden Miller.

The West Virginia All-Stars answered with eight straight factors keyed by a steal and bucket from Parkersburg South guard Cyrus Traugh to take their first double-digit lead of the evening at 97-87.

A lay-up from Frontier’s Tice Curtis briefly slowed the momentum the West Virginia workforce had constructed however they regained it fairly shortly as they scored 11 of the following 13 factors to take a commanding 20-point lead and by no means look again from there.

Advertisement

South Harrison head coach Tom Sears coached the winners and the veteran head coach noticed three of his personal gamers contribute together with 6-foot-4 inch guard Corey Boulden who led all scorers with 28 factors and claimed the Most Helpful Participant award for the West Virginia squad.

“It’s good to get the win again on the West Virginia facet as a result of it’s been a number of years since we’ve been in a position to do this,” mentioned Sears. “It’s an incredible occasion, a fantastic crowd, nice power for a fantastic trigger and it was nice to educate my boys another time.”

Becoming a member of Boulden on the West Virginia facet had been teammates Noah Burnside and Austin Peck who made their presence felt with 12 and 6 factors respectively.

Boulden had an enormous evening as he not solely knocked down 4 three-pointers within the sport itself, he edged Matthew Carte from Ravenswood to win the three-point contest at half time of the women sport.

“It’s simply superior to come back out and have some enjoyable with the fellows and lift some funds for such a fantastic charity,” mentioned Boulden. “It was an honor to get to play for Coach Sears on final time as a result of he has been with me since day one.”

Advertisement

Carte had an impressive sport in addition to he canned three triples of his personal to complete with 20 factors.

Traugh and Haught additionally reached double figures for the winners with 14 and 13 factors respectively.

Parkersburg South’s Austin Reeves simply missed a double-double as he yanked down a team-high 10 boards to go together with 9 factors.

Belpre’s Tucker Liston led the Ohio facet in scoring with 20 factors together with 4 from behind the arc.

The Ohio facet tallied 15 3-pointers within the sport with Miller connecting on three whereas Gallia Academy’s Jance Lambert and River’s Evan Jarvis added a pair apiece.

Advertisement

Liston garnered MVP honors for the Ohio facet and felt lucky to get to resume some outdated acquaintances in a sport for such a fantastic trigger.

“Truly I performed extra via the years and was extra acquainted with a whole lot of guys on the West Virginia facet so it was a whole lot of enjoyable,” mentioned Liston. “It’s a enjoyable occasion and I used to be glad to get to be part of it.”

Becoming a member of Liston in double figures for the Ohio squad was Miller with 17 whereas huge (6-8) Isaac Clary from South Gallia added 16 and River’s Evan Jarvis 11.

South Gallia’s Brody Fellure led all rebounders with 11 whereas Thompson and Clary yanked down eight apiece.

The win was the thirteenth total for the West Virginia squad towards seven losses and the primary since 2015 with the sport not being performed in both 2020 or 2021.

Advertisement

River’s River Thompson gained the slam dunk competitors over St. Mary’s huge man Luke Powell.

In the present day’s breaking information and extra in your inbox



Source link

Continue Reading

West Virginia

Wildcats drop game 1 to West Virginia – The Collegian

Press Room

Published

on

Wildcats drop game 1 to West Virginia – The Collegian


Senior Owen Boerema strains up for a pitch in opposition to Military on March 3. Ok-State baseball completed sturdy with a 4-1 win. (Jersey Johnson | Collegian Media Group)

On a windy night in Manhattan, Kansas State baseball fell 8-3 within the first of a three-game weekend sequence in opposition to the No. 24 West Virginia Mountaineers. Ok-State strikes to 18-10 and 4-3 in Huge 12 play. 

The Wildcats got here able to play each side of the ball. Ok-State beginning pitcher Owen Boerema struck out the aspect within the high of the primary. The bats adopted go well with within the backside half as middle fielder Brendan Jones homered on his pitch. Third basemen Kaelen Culpepper hit a solo shot of his personal to offer Ok-State an early 2-0 lead.

West Virginia’s proper fielder Caleb McNeely gave Boerema issues all night, beginning within the second with a deep residence run into proper. The Mountaineers tagged on one other within the second to tie the sport. McNeely singled to usher in one other run and provides West Virginia the lead within the third inning.

McNeely, this time within the fifth, got here by way of with an RBI double. A groundout scored one other run, increasing the Mountaineer lead, 5-2. 

Advertisement

The Wildcat offense started to sputter as West Virginia beginning pitcher Ben Hampton settled in. The southpaw set 13 straight outs and recorded 8 strikeouts by way of simply 5 innings.

Second basemen J.J. Wetherholt, the Huge 12 chief in batting common, hit a no-doubt homer within the sixth. West Virginia led 7-2.

Boerema’s day completed bitter after a powerful begin. The lefty completed after six innings with seven strikeouts, 10 hits and was accountable for all West Virginia’s first seven runs.

Ok-State had a chance to strike within the backside of the sixth, loading the bases with only one out. Freshman Carson Queck, at designated hitter for the evening, struck out trying earlier than proper fielder Money Rugely walked residence a run. It was the only real run the Wildcats scratched throughout within the inning, nonetheless trailing by 4 runs.

The Mountaineers took the lead again to 5 runs within the seventh with a towering solo shot to left area. Ok-State noticed its final alternative to chop the deficit by loading the bases within the eighth however got here away with nothing.

Advertisement

McNeely tripled within the high of ninth to report the primary Mountaineer cycle since 2014. 

Hampton (2-0) acquired the win for West Virginia and Boerema (4-1) recorded his first lack of the season. The second sport of the sequence will happen at 4 p.m. on Saturday.





Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending

DON’T MISS OUT!
Subscribe To Newsletter
Be the first to get latest updates and exclusive content straight to your email inbox.
Stay Updated
Give it a try, you can unsubscribe anytime.
close-link