AND THEN AGAIN……by Tamara Pettit

……The weather may be warm, hot actually, but all signs point to the arrival of Fall.   Kids are back to school; football and soccer have begun; and the clock is ticking down to General Election Day, Nov. 8, 2022.

…. Voters have a hard  choice to make on Constitutional Amendment 2 on the ballot.   At first glance, it appears a no brainer.   Eliminate your personal property tax….eliminate equipment and machinery taxes for business and industry.  How could you argue with that?    But, take a closer look at the language.   A “yes”  vote simply gives your power away….to the West Virginia Legislature.  Amendment #2 s authorizes the Legislature to decide on the tax reduction.    Do you really want to give them the power  to start  wheeling and dealing (and as a former member of that august body, I can verify there’s wheeling and dealing beyond your wildest dream) with your tax dollars.

….And, if 60 percent of the voters opt to give the Legislature that  power, one must consider that while it’s a break for both the individual taxpayer and our business and industry, there are very serious and onerous implications for our local school district, cities and counties.   Remember, for every dollar you take from one pot of funds  you have to replace it in another pot.  In this case, the replacement of those funds hit home.

……Information provided by the Hancock County School system showed a projected loss based on assessed values of $9,991,180.00  The loss breaks down like this: County General Fund – $2,045,714; School Current – $2,775,304; School Bond – $912,703; School Excess Levy $3,283,156; Chester – $48,706; New Cumberland – $35,056 ; Weirton – $594,357; State – $35,764; Sheltered Workshop – $101,570; Library -$81,542; Animal Shelter $40,056.                                                         

…..How will those deficits be made up?  Proponents of the Amendment have spoken about making the counties, cities and schools “whole” with the future economic growth created by the reduction of those taxes.  How confident are you in the State’s leadership both in the Executive and Legislative branches to cast your vote based on such a vague promise?   I’m not at all confident in that.

……Guidance from the Ethics Commission have told school board members and the school administration  that they cannot speak out for or against the amendment or the School Excess Levy.    The Administration can, however, visit your organization and provide an educational, non-biased overview. 

…..The Hancock County Commission discussed Constitutional Amendment 2 at its last meeting but did not speak out against it, instead providing information.   I noticed, however, that the Kanawha County Commission voted to send a formal  s letter to all counties, municipalities, legislators and the Governor stating their opposition to the Amendment #2.  President Kent Carper said “When and if this passes, there will be severe cuts to critical local government.  That’s just the way it is.”   Commissioner Ben Salango gave a practical example, “All the deputies in the hall, go pick 1/3 of them and send them home.”

…..So am I for or against Constitutional Amendment #2?   I am against it.  As a former legislator, I would never give up my ability to say “yay” or “nay” to a tax reduction or increase  to the legislative body.  I know full well how votes were traded in the past and will continue to be traded in the future.   Democrat or Republican leadership…doesn’t matter.  That’s the process.  I remember my Dad telling me of how votes to establish the WV Osteopathic Medical School  were traded for  votes on the Sheriff’s Succession bill in the 1970’s.       In my own time, I remember Governor Gaston Caperton’s computers in the school funding being tied to the passage of another constitutional amendment authorizing video lottery  in 1993. 

…..Those are our tax dollars, those are our towns and those are our schools.  Let’s make sure we keep the power to determine the future in our hands.