MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Mike Oliverio, R, Monongalia, 13, has announced plans to run for reelection.
On WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,” he said progress on lowering the tax burden for residents over the last three years has been a big achievement for the entire state and strengthens our position to bring new jobs to the area. Since 2023, state lawmakers have approved a 27.25 percent cut to the personal income tax, allowing state residents to keep more of their hard-earned wages.
“We’ve made progress with a couple of cuts over the past couple of years, and I’m proud of that,” Oliverio said. “But there’s so much more that needs to be done, and that is one step that will help us recruit.”
On the continued increases in the Public Employee Insurance Agency (PEIA), he said more needs to be done. Attacking the issue by giving state employees raises and taking steps to control or help more premium increases are two approaches Oliverio suggested.
“We’ve got to step up and provide some additional dollars in the way of wages for our public employees and in the way of helping with the premiums,” Oliverio said. “And if we don’t do that, we won’t have public employees.”
Citing the Third Grade Success Act that put more aides in elementary classrooms, he said more needs to be done to put the tools into the hands of educators to help students in the classroom.
“We spend almost half of our general revenue dollars, half of that $5 billion, on public education, and that’s very important to us and to me personally—I’m a product of Monongalia County Schools.”
Oliverio helped secure $400,000 for the Middle College at Fairmont State University, a one-of-a-kind program that gives foster children opportunities after aging out of the system. Foster children have a place to live and the opportunity to get a high school diploma or associate’s degree or use those credits in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree through the program.
“Only about 50 percent of foster kids graduate from high school, and only four percent graduate from college, so we need to be doing things to help these foster kids,” Oliverio said. “Some of them are out-of-state, and we need to bring them home, protect them, and give them every opportunity for success.”
He plans to continue working with the state Division of Highways (DOH) to improve service to the public and promote major projects. He’s worked to establish pilot projects using public/private partnerships to address ditching in Monongalia County and worked with Delegate David McCormick, R, Monongalia, 82, on a similar approach to snow removal in Monongalia and Preston Counties.
Collaboration with local officials on major projects like enhanced access for the Morgantown Industrial Park off I-79 will continue to be a priority. The park has hundreds of acres of land ready for commerce but lacks effective industrial access. Improvements like the reconstruction of Holland Avenue are important commitments that support economic development efforts.
“We very much want that Harmony Grove exit,” Oliverio said. “If we’re going to create meaningful jobs in Monongalia County with meaningful wages, benefits, and retirements, we need more people working in that industrial park.”