Outlook Bleak for Severance Tax Collection
We attended two interim meetings in November, discussing the economic impacts of the changes in production of coal, oil, and natural gas in West Virginia. The outlook for coal in the next several years is pretty bleak! Most of West Virginia’s GEP comes from coal and production is down, according to Mark Muchow, Secretary of Tax and Revenue. There are several reasons including the lack of demand from the planned shutdown of a large number of coal-fired energy plants, as well as the current environmental wild card atmosphere.
Coal has been the biggest contributor to WV’s economy over the last 8 years, but is projected to much less over the next 5 years. While oil and natural gas production is up some 25%, severance taxes are still down because demand is down, therefore selling prices are down. As far as how WV compares in severance tax rates (5%) to our neighboring states, we are about equal with Kentucky (4 ½%), a little higher than Pennsylvania who has some sort of impact fee (2 ½%), and ahead of Maryland, Virginia, and Ohio, all having nothing significant in the way of a severance tax. This landscape has major effects on county budgets, not only from a reduction in severance tax revenue collections, but also in reduced property tax collections and loss of jobs when power plants and coal mines close. The up-tick in the oil and gas industry is wonderful, but is not able to level out the lost due to decreases in the coal industry. While some counties may see losses and some gains, because of the volatility of the market, there is a tremendous fluctuation in taxes that counties count on from year to year.
County Commisioners' Attend Three Day "Basic Training" Program
Some 70 newly elected and veteran County Commissioners from around the state gathered in Bridgeport for a three day “basic training” course designed for newly elected and veteran county commissioners and staff in West Virginia. The intense training offered by the County Commissioners’ Association of West Virginia (CCAWV), was held November 28-30, 2012 and was well attended by over fifty participants, newly elected and veteran. “These folks have a lot on their plate when they take office,” ” said Vivian Parsons, Executive Director of the Commissioners’ Association. “It is our goal to provide them with the tools and resources they need to effectively deal with all of the issues that will hit them as they walk through the courthouse doors!”
CCAWV President Cindy Pyles, Mineral County welcomed the participants and opened the thought-provoking program. “This is no picnic,” said President Pyles, “being a county commissioner is a tough job, but we're here to give you support!"
The jam packed agenda included sessions on media relations, team building skills, parliamentary procedure, county finances, employment practices, county risk management, board of review, ethics and open meeting laws. All attendees took home the 2012 edition of the CCAWV County Commissioners’ Handbook.
County Commision Outreach
Bringing public awareness to the office of County Commissioner
Anyone that works in county government knows that the biggest public fallacy is that a County Commissioner only works part time. This statement is proven erroneous every day by Lewis County
Commissioner, Agnes Queen. She i s a 24/7 Commissioner and one particular example of her dedication, work ethic and vision for advancing Lewis County was seen during the June 29, 2012 derecho that devastated West Virginia and surrounding areas.
CCAWV Holds Regional Jail Costs Summit in Harrison County
On October 14-15, 2012 thirty-eight County Commissioners and staff from 22 counties came together with CCAWV Staff and RJA Executive Director Joe DeLong to discuss county concerns and suggested solutions to the increasing cost to counties for incarcerating inmates in regional jails, CCAWV’s top legislative priority for 2013.
The group spent Sunday afternoon brainstorming and came up with over 30 concerns. Before recessing for dinner, the group agreed to a methodology for prioritizing the multitude of topics, the following morning. Through much discussion and lively debate, 5 top priority issues emerged. (The complete list of committee study topics, including the priorities, are listed on the enclosed/attached newsletter insert.)
CCAWV Legislative Roundtable Meetings - 2012 Meeting Schedule
Region 1
Gilmer, Lewis, Upshur, Braxton, Nicholas, Webster, Fayette, Clay
Fayette County
December 14, 2012
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Fayette County Courthouse
Region 2
Doddridge, Calhoun, Wirt, Pleasants, Wood, Ritchie, Tyler, Roane, Mason, Putnam, Jackson Jackson County
December 17, 2012
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Jackson County Courthouse
Region 3
Logan, Wayne, Mingo, Cabell, Lincoln, Kanawha, Boone
Logan County
December 19, 2012
12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Chief Logan State Park
Lunch provided
Region 4
Grant, Mineral, Hampshire, Hardy, Tucker, Pendleton, Randolph, Pocahontas
Randolph County
November 14, 2012
12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Rail Yard Restaurant
Town Square, Elkins
Lunch provided
Region 5
Berkeley, Morgan, Jefferson
Berkeley County
December 3, 2012
9:00 am
Blue Ridge Community Technical College
13650 Apple Harvest Drive, Martinsburg
Region 6
Raleigh, Summers, Mercer, Monroe, Wyoming, McDowell, Greenbrier
Monroe County
December 13, 2012
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
County Courthouse
Region 7
Harrison, Monongalia, Preston, Barbour, Marion, Taylor
Preston County
December 6, 2012
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
County Courthouse
Region 8
Marshall, Brooke, Ohio, Hancock, Wetzel
Wetzel County
December 5, 2012
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Quinet’s (court) Restaurant
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