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<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nThe meeting is hosted by the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and will be moderated by the Center\u2019s Seth DiStefano.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The meeting comes on the heels of a November election that saw the public overwhelmingly defeat Amendment Two, a proposition put forth by the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce that would have allowed the legislators to repeal property taxes on vehicles, business machinery, equipment and inventory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The public rejected Amendment Two by 65 percent (309,007) to 35 percent (107,013).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The proponents, including the Chamber of Commerce and State Senate leader Craig Blair (R-Berkeley), played up the possible repeal of the state\u2019s vehicle property tax.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But the Amendment was opposed by a right-left coalition that included Governor Jim Justice and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Passage of the amendment would have given the legislature control over $515 million of property tax revenue, or 27 percent of total property tax revenue in the state, \u201cresulting in the fulfillment of a long-term goal of state legislators to take control of a significant portion of property tax revenue in order to pursue a property tax cut that largely benefits out-of-state businesses,\u201d said the Center\u2019s Sean O\u2019Leary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe legislature\u2019s anticipated goal is to eliminate this portion of property tax revenue entirely by exempting new items from property taxation,\u201d O\u2019Leary said. \u201cBusinesses \u2013 not individuals \u2013 would receive two-thirds of the proposed tax cuts under Amendment Two.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Governor Justice said that one reason he was opposed to the amendment was that it would allow the legislature to give big tax breaks to out of state corporations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEveryone wants to pay lower taxes. But, that money builds the infrastructure we need to function as a community,\u201d said Rebecca MacLeod who helped organize the event in Berkeley Springs. \u201cIt pays for public safety and rescue. It keeps libraries open, after school programs, water and sewer, and flood control functioning. As long as the tax burden is shared equitably, most of us pay our taxes and the community supports its population.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cElected officials decide how the money is allocated,\u201d MacLeod said. \u201cIf your taxes are used to improve your community and state, that\u2019s good. But if the money is funneled to large corporations or other financial accounts, as tax and business \u2018incentives,\u2019 that\u2019s not so good. Moreover, the state favorability ranking for business hasn\u2019t changed for decades, despite big cuts for business.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A town hall meeting to discuss the West Virginia budget surplus will be held tomorrow night, Tuesday January 3, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. at the Morgan County Courthouse in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia. The meeting is hosted by the West … Continue reading