CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The state Senate will be focusing more on tax reform when the legislature reconvenes in February.
A new select committee on tax reform was named last week by Senate President Mitch Carmichael (R-Jackson).
“I’m going to appoint a special select committee on tax reform within the West Virginia Senate to analyze the manner in which we tax the citizens of West Virginia,” Carmichael announced last week during Panhandle Live with Hans Fogle on MetroNews affiliate WEPM in Martinsburg.
Senator Robert Karnes, R-Upshur, will serve as the committee’s chairman. Senate Majority Whip Craig Blair, R-Berkeley, will serve as vice chairman. Other committee members are Senate Majority Leader Ryan Ferns, R-Ohio; Senator Greg Boso, R-Nicholas; Senator Ed Gaunch, R-Kanawha; Senator Glenn Jeffries, D-Putnam; and Senator Robert Plymale, D-Wayne.
Carmichael pointed to the state’s business and inventory tax and tax exemptions as possible areas of focus.
“We recognize that is a very important element of our poor economy, and our poor economic performance,” Carmichael said. “And we are intent on changing that.”
The committee will also address the numerous exemptions for certain industries that exist within the tax code,” Blair said.
“There’s lots of opportunities out here for select groups to go out here and avoid paying taxes, which then pushes the burden over to those that are paying the taxes.”
Blair said they will have a careful and deliberate approach when considering the existing exemptions, but believes there are changes to be made.
Blair also said that allowing counties to have home rule similar to some West Virginia municipalities is a goal.
He and Carmichael both want to see more local control.
Carmichael said the newly formed committee will be starting their work in the next few weeks in order to maximize the session.
“That is the purpose of appointing it now,” he said. “They’ll have the time that the governor is organizing his executive branch of government.”