MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Delegate Joe Statler (R – Monongalia, 51) expects the business inventory tax debate to weigh heavily when the 60-day regular legislative session begins Wednesday.
And by weigh heavily, he means weigh on those who realize they need to find a revenue neutral solution.
“I will tell you, coming from a former school board member, they also will be hurt if you take the inventory tax away,” Statler said on Morgantown AM. “But on the other side of it, I also see that it is a hindrance for people coming into the state.”
Republican leadership is proposing a seven-year phase out of the tax, which they argue is stifling economic growth. Monongalia County Commissioners have already told WAJR they don’t know how counties could make up for the lost revenue.
“How do you make up that lost revenue?” Statler said. “Toward the counties and school boards, that’s where the most hurt will be. And I think that’s on a lot of people’s minds down there, including the leadership. We’d like to do away with it, but how can we do it and remain neutral for the loss towards the counties and the school boards?”
Statler said a reasonable solution is possible because the budget situation is much stronger than it’s been in the past.
“The revenues are coming in about where they expected,” Statler said. “That’s a change from before when they always had those revenues down. We still have some down, but if you look at the overall — and things that’s going on out there — the severance taxes and stuff are increasing.”
Statler praised both coal and natural gas for having stronger years in 2017. The energy sector is in the midst of another round of negotiations on the issue of forced pooling, which centered around Governor Jim Justice’s desire to strike a deal. Statler said, grandiosity aside, he believes the Governor is reasonable and can be worked with — regardless of the party.
“It doesn’t make a difference to me, Democrat or Republican,” Statler said. “Any time I go to Charleston, I try to work with the people that I can work with. If I can work with Mr. Justice, we can come up with solutions out there. And, I’m sure I can work with him, because I’m the type that would try to meet in the middle and come up with a solution that’s best for everybody.”
The 60-day session begins Wednesday.