Tax & Budget
The Impact of Coal on the West Virginia State Budget
June 22, 2010 -- This report, co-issued by the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy and Downstream Strategies examines the net impact of the coal industry on the W. Va. state budget and finds that the industry itself—including its direct and indirect employees—actually costs West Virginia state taxpayers more than it provides. Read
State tax credit would benefit working families
February 17, 2010 -- A state version of the federal Earned Income Tax Credit would bolster the economic security of working families, according to a new report released February 17 by the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy and the Alliance for Sustainable Families. The state credit would impact an estimated 90,000 working families who struggle to make ends meet. Read
New brief examines Governor's proposed budget for FY 2011
February 5, 2010 -- Federal Recovery Act funding will prevent deep cuts in the state budget next year, as it has done this year. However, future budget shortfalls are on the horizon for West Virginia. This brief by the Center on Budget and Policy takes a close look at the Governor's proposed budget for FY 2011 and explores options to improve state budget stability. Read
Mid-Year Budget Cuts Premature
February 5, 2010 -- When year-to-date budget revenues declined by $13.7 million in November, the Governor reacted by ordering state agencies to cut 3.4 percent of their budgets. Read
State health programs cut in Governor's proposed budget
February 4, 2010 -- While the Recovery Act continues to bolster Medicaid funding, other health programs fared less well in the Governor's budget. According to a new brief by the Center on Budget and Policy, several small programs (including the WV Center for End of Life) were zeroed out, while others (including the Tobacco Education Program) received substantial cuts. Read
Paying for Priorities: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the State Budget
September 2, 2009 -- “Paying for Priorities” examines how this year’s state budget was developed, where the revenues are expected to come from, and how the funds will be allocated among state agencies and programs. Read
West Virginia Ends 2009 Fiscal Year with Healthy Surplus
August 27, 2009 -- A summary of West Virginia's $178 million budget surplus for FY 2009. Read
“Magic” Money a Mere Illusion: Refund Anticipation Loans & the Earned Income Tax Credit in West Virginia
August 25, 2009 -- Working West Virginians with modest
incomes lost nearly $13 million of their 2006 federal income tax
refunds to tax preparers who promised them “fast cash." Refund
Anticipation Loans (RALs) provide high-interest credit or cash
advances to tax filers based on their expected refunds and are
marketed to those who need money quickly during tax season.
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Taxing West Virginia's Coal Reserves: A Primer
May, 2009 -- This new report describes the history and current methods of taxing one of the state’s most valuable resources. It is intended as a useful reference for county officials, coal companies, landowners, and local citizens. Morgantown-based Downstream Strategies prepared the report, in collaboration with the WV Center on Budget and Policy. Read | PDF
Balancing the State Budget: Raise Revenues before Cutting Programs
March 24, 2009 -- Read Full Report Read Report Highlights)\
Making Work Pay: A State Earned Income Tax Credit for West Virginia (Full Report)
January, 2009 -- This report makes the case for enacting a State Earned Income Tax Credit for W. Va. Read | PDF
Wages in Deep Decline for Young Workers -- Unions Can Help
October, 2008 -- Young unionized workers in West Virginia make more money and have better benefits than their non-unionized counterparts. Read
Fuel Shock: How West Virginia Can Beat the High Cost of Gasoline (Full Report)
September, 2008 -- Freezing a portion of the state gas tax is at best a short term solution that does not guarantee West Virginians any real savings and leaves them vulnerable to high gasoline prices. Read | PDF
Making Work Pay: A State Earned Income Tax Credit for West Virginia (Fact Sheet)
September, 2008 -- A West Virginia State Earned Income Tax Credit (SEITC) would boost the incomes of more than 145,000 working West Virginia families. Read | PDF
A State Earned Income Tax Credit Would Benefit More West Virginians than State Family Tax Credit
August, 2008 -- If West Virginia were to adopt a refundable SEITC, it would provide additional income to sufficiently help working family’s build a better future for themselves. Read
Federal Tax Cuts on Investment Income Heavily Favor Top One Percent of West Virginians
May, 2008 -- Federal tax cuts on investment income do little to help 99% of West Virginians. Read
High Costs, Dubious Benefits: The Fiscal Impact of Tax Cuts in SB 680 and SB 465 (Full Report)
March, 2008 -- This report analyzes how recent tax changes and new proposed business tax cuts will lead to either cuts in government services or require tax increases in the near future. | Read PDF
Proposed Corporate Tax Cuts: Analysis of SB 680 and SB 465 (Fact Sheet)
March, 2008 -- What do proposed corporate tax cuts mean to West Virginia? | Read PDF
Combined Reporting: How It Works and Why We Still Need It
February, 2008 -- This fact sheet makes the case for why W. Va.'s "combined reporting" law should not be repealed. | Read PDF