The Importance of Amendment Two As we begin to enter fall and experience some cooler temperatures, races for the general election on Tuesday, November 8th are heating up. Half of the State Senate’s 34 seats, and all 100 House of Delegates seats are up for election this year. In addition to the Senate and House races, there are four potential amendments to the West Virginia Constitution. The amendments cover a wide variety of topics; however, the most important of these, as it relates to West Virginia businesses is Amendment Two. In 2021, after years of trying to reform West Virginia’s tax structure, the West Virginia Legislature adopted House Joint Resolution 3, also known as the Property Tax Modernization Amendment. The constitutional amendment seeks to modernize our Constitution and will give our Legislature the flexibility to cut or eliminate property taxes on personal motor vehicles, and the taxes businesses pay on their equipment, machinery, and inventory. Because personal property taxes are a constitutional provision in West Virginia, changes to the tax structure can only be made through a constitutional amendment. If passed, Amendment Two will give legislators the authority to revisit our State Constitution and to start the process of adjusting certain personal property taxes (i.e., machinery and equipment, inventory, and personal motor vehicles). The impetus behind Amendment Two is ultimately to create a modernized tax structure that will create more jobs, attract economic development, and cut taxes for hard-working West Virginians. WVADA has joined forces with several other state associations in rolling out a “Make West Virginia First” campaign. We have a live website (makewvfirst.com), where you can sign up for information updates and notices. We will also be supporting the regional roundtable discussions with local community members from September 29 – October 10 in Teays Valley, Parkersburg, Clarksburg, Martinsburg, Beckley and Wheeling. We expect to have a broad representation of supporters for these discussions – business owners, legislators, and manufacturers all aimed at providing positive earned media opportunities. Amendment two will help move West Virginia to the front of the list for economic development, spurring new jobs and career opportunities, strengthening communities, and allowing West Virginians to keep more of their hard-earned money. It is important to note that Amendment two costs taxpayers nothing but gives the legislature the authority to address critical tax policy at a time when schools and local governments can benefit from the fruits of responsible government. With over $1 BILLION in surplus revenues, Amendment two paves the way for tax relief with protections for local government budgets, education, and other funding. I highly encourage each of you to visit makewvfirst.com to familiarize yourself with the benefits Amendment two can bring to our State. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. Support Amendment Two. Scan this QR code, like the Facebook page and share! https://www.facebook.com/profile. php?id=100085528047548 wvcar.com 6 WVADA
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