Local News

Legislative Luncheon

Lawmakers offer insight on session

ELKINS -- The Elkins-Randolph County Chamber of Commerce hosted its second Legislative Luncheon of the year Thursday at the Myles Center for the Arts, Senate Commons on the campus of Davis & Elkins College.

Delegate Ty Nestor, R-District 66; Delegate Elias Coop-Gonzalez, R-District 67; state Sen. Robert Karnes, R-11th District; and state Sen. Bill Hamilton, R-11 District, fielded questions from moderator Emily Coffman.

"There have been various bills introduced involving tax credits, workforce growth and business development," said Coffman. "Fifty-five bills were introduced on this topic, with approximately half of those involving tax credits, primarily designed to attract and entertain skilled workers. The other half involved credits that are intended to attract businesses to West Virginia, and encourage rural and small business development.

"So my questions here, legislators, do you think there is a path to passing some of these tax credit bills during the 2024 session? If so, what impact do you think they will have for Randolph County.?

Nestor was the first to field the tax credit question, saying, "What we all know, and it's been proven nationwide time and time again throughout history, is that reduction in personal income taxes is the largest tax incentive you can provide to attract people to your state.

"That is absolutely the tax that needs to be focused on to promote economic development in our state, including Randolph County. We made some strides with that already and we are moving in the right direction to ultimately phase out personal income tax in the state. When that is accomplished, we are going to continue to see positive growth and the population increases that we have become accustomed to."

Coop-Gonzalez said he believed there are better alternatives than tax credits.

"I definitely think there is a place for tax credits, but it's not really tax credits that are going to get us to where we want to be economically," he said. "I think it really goes a little more toward general tax relief, and that's really how we are going to get toward economic growth. I think it will give people incentives to come here and build businesses and raise families.

"There's a place for tax credits, but the big distinction is when you give a tax credit, it goes toward a specific person or entity. General tax relief is just the best way to economic growth and to bring people in."

Hamilton said some aspects of tax credits haven't yet made an impact in Randolph County.

"Tax credits and some of the things we did in the Senate and House have probably not had a direct effect on Randolph County yet," he said. "Most of the future jobs and growth have happened in the Ohio Valley. But some of the things that we are doing and have done, will promote job growth here.

"Most importantly, we have to complete Corridor H. Once that is completed that will open up the area and I think we will see more of an impact."

Karnes said he agreed that more tax credits could equal more growth in the Mountain State.

"The data proves very resoundingly that reducing or eliminating your income tax is the most powerful thing you can do," said Karnes. "Tax credits have been done in the past, some of them were targeted, and I don't necessarily have a problem with those, but I do think you have to be careful that you are not losing the big picture 

"There's literally nothing we can do that's more powerful for Randolph County and  across West Virginia, then continue income tax reductions until we no longer have an income tax in the state."

 The luncheon was held in conjunction with the 2024 Leadership Randolph Class, and the event was sponsored by Performance Chevrolet. All proceeds taken in will benefit West Virginia Rhododendron Girls State.