Posted on 11/08/2022 7:15:26 AM PST by SovereignVA
The amendment itself doesn’t actually change or repeal property taxes; rather, it will change the state constitution to allow the state Legislature to act how it sees fit. Lawmakers pushing for the change argue that as a body of officials elected by West Virginians, they should have the power to control and alter these taxes, but even so the effort has been criticized as part of a larger attempt at a legislative “power grab” this election season.
But if voters approve the amendment, there’s more than one way that the state Legislature could respond to getting the power that it wants.
So far, the most information has come from a draft Senate plan. It lays out an elimination of the current annual tax on personal vehicles as well as cutting inventory taxes businesses pay on unsold goods and taxes on heavy machinery and equipment. Legislators and some tax policy groups say that these taxes make it difficult to attract businesses to West Virginia, and that ending them will help make the state more competitive.
(Excerpt) Read more at mountainstatespotlight.org ...
Who controls taxation in WV today? Why hasnt the legislature had this power all along?
I moved here from Virginia last year. I know nothing.
The legislature is for it as an economic development tool. The local governments not so much as it would limit their revenue stream. WV's on and off again Republican governor(and Baby Dog) is campaigning against the measure.
So in WV, the more you own, the more you owe. I always wondered why WV was such a poor state. Beautiful, but dirt poor.
WV is in a catch 22 situation on economic development. Inadequate basic services and infrastructure makes business look elsewhere which leads to continued inadequacy in services and infrastructure because the tax base does not grow. Throw in parochialism you have a formula for no economic growth.
Who controls taxation in WV today?
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Personal Property taxes and RE taxes are controlled by counties.
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Why hasnt the legislature had this power all along.
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People didn’t want to give that power to Charleston. They wanted to keep it local
The admendment, if approved would allow the state legislature to exempt tangible assets such as business machinery and personal vehicles from property taxes
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It would also allow the !egislature to INCREASE those taxes and levy NEW methods of taxation.
so vote no on it?
This is helpful, thank you.
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