Senate leaders Craig Blair and Eric Tarr want to spend more time with Gov. Jim Justice in give-and-take over the virtues of property tax cuts.
The governor has hit the road to campaign against Amendment 2, which would change the state Constitution to give the Legislature the ability to alter property tax rates. Justice says that’s shortsighted and has spoken against it in Wheeling on Friday, Beckley on Monday, Charleston today and Summersville tomorrow.
Blair and Tarr want the amendment to pass and say property tax cuts could give citizens a break on their vehicles and employers a break on their machinery, equipment and inventory.
All are Republicans who want tax cuts, but they’re not seeing eye-to-eye-to-eye. Today, Blair and Tarr released a statement pressing Justice to invite them along on his barnstorming tour with Revenue Secretary Dave Hardy so they could present the other side to his argument.
Their outreach included a reference to the governor’s canine companion, Babydog, who has accompanied him on the stops. Some of the signage at the events indicate the dog has taken a position against the property tax amendment.
“In just two stops on this literal dog and pony show, there have been countless misrepresentations and inaccuracies presented by both the Governor and Secretary Hardy, and the handful of people who have shown up are only getting one side of the issue,” stated Blair, the Senate president.
“We believe that open, honest debate is the best way to make sure voters are educated on this issue, and would challenge the Governor and Secretary Hardy to include us on these stops going forward.”
.@WVSenatePres and @EricJTarr4WV issued a call today for Governor Justice and State Revenue Secretary Dave Hardy to participate in a series of public forums to allow West Virginian's complete and accurate information about Amendment Two. Senator Blair joins @HoppyKercheval. pic.twitter.com/3Yr96oUphW
— MetroNews (@WVMetroNews) September 27, 2022
State lawmakers have long talked about having more flexibility with property taxes, particularly those that businesses pay on equipment and inventory. Last year, lawmakers passed a resolution that could allow changes on personal property tax rates.
Because it’s a constitutional issue, West Virginia voters have say-so on the matter through General Election ballots.
Property taxes are a main piece of how counties pay for services like school systems, ambulance services, libraries and more.
The Senate leaders have suggested money from the state would more than make up for what counties give up in property taxes. That could pay for expenses that local governments now struggle to meet, including jail bills, the Senate president has said.
Tarr pushed back the governor’s claims that the financing under property tax proposals is uncertain by countering that the Senate’s adaptable plan is clearly outlined, easily available and offers detailed information about all 55 of West Virginia’s counties.
“We keep hearing the Governor say ‘there is no plan’ and then it’s ‘it’s not a plan the Legislature has agreed to,’ but if he would look at the plan we’ve provided, he would see that’s just not true,” stated Tarr, the Senate Finance chairman.
“It’s fundamentally unfair to West Virginians who genuinely want to learn more about how this Amendment could affect their finances to be fed a constant stream of fear mongering and bad information. Let’s be completely transparent, ask questions back and forth, and have a discussion together on the merits in public, unless there’s a reason the Governor is afraid to have those discussions in the open.”
During a regular briefing today, Justice said isn’t looking for conflict with Blair and Tarr.
“The last thing in the world I am wanting to do is start a food fight. I literally don’t want anything to do with a political food fight,” Justice said.
The governor suggested the Senate leaders for months have been talking with local leaders and organizations like the West Virginia Manufacturers Association, but “they never invited me. They’ve never said ‘Governor, we’d like for you to go and be with us and everything in regard to this.'”
But the governor said voters largely do not know much about Amendment 2. So, “without any kind of hoopla, I’m going to continue to try to present to the voters something that I think they should be very concerned with.”