MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – To the surprise of Delegate John Williams, D-Monongalia County, the governor reintroduced a plan to cut the personal income tax after the House of Delegates rejected a similar plan during the 2021 legislative session. On WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,” he said he’s willing to listen, but admits his skepticism.
“It’s my understanding the current plan is going to resemble that plan in some ways,” Williams said. “So, I don’t know how much of an appetite there is for it I think there are discussions still happening, but we’ll wait and see.”
Williams proposed a plan that would use a portion of the surplus to stave off a looming Public Employees Insurance Agency (PEIA) shortfall and direct the relief to those hurting most. Williams believes the current proposal would favor tax payers in the highest tax brackets most.
“A similar cut in revenue for state government that would give every single child in the state of West Virginia a tax credit to pay for daycare,” Williams said. ” There are proposals out there that would target it more to middle class, lower-income folks- the folks who are really hurting the most.”
World events have pushed energy costs to record highs that have also driven coal severance tax revenues to make a substantial contribution to the FY ’22 surplus. Future coal severance revenue will fluctuate with markets as well as current efforts to bring energy costs under control.
“Severance tax collections is a downward trend and in any downward trend typically there are small upward trends,” Williams said. “But, still the story os a downward one.”
Williams said corporations considering to bring jobs to West Virginia rarely complain about high taxes. Rather, it’s labor, infrastructure and access to markets.
“So, if the question is about bringing in companies to bring in jobs why not pay for that workforce development to try to train a workforce for the 21st century.”
As a Democrat in the super minority, Williams is optimistic he can work with Republicans to help bring relief to the state. But, he wants to make sure that any plan is a stable benefit that will encourage more economic growth and expansion.
“I reserve it as my right as someone who is elected to represent working West Virginians to try to work on this thing before it comes to a vote to make the best it can possibly be,” Williams said.