'Guaran-flat-tee': Justice delivers as state revenue continues to boom

That amount included recording-setting income tax collections that were $192.8 million above estimates.

“This is a historic accomplishment — setting new records for the largest single-month revenue and personal income tax collections in state history,” Justice said. “I am proud of our state’s financial health, but I am also incredibly proud of the hardworking West Virginians who helped put us in this financial position.

“It’s an honor to be able to make announcements like this because West Virginia has truly turned bankruptcy into prosperity. All West Virginians should carry with them a sense of pride, because our state is on the move and the envy of the world.”

It is important to remember that when Justice took office, the state was mired in budget cuts and financial worry.

By sharpening their budget tools, holding expenses where possible, benefiting some from federal dollars but also a much more business-friendly approach, West Virginia leaders have turned woes into wells of prosperity.

“When you really look at these numbers, you see a very healthy West Virginia economy with people working and people making higher wages,” Secretary of Revenue Dave Hardy said. “I am proud to be part of the governor’s leadership team that is making the kind of history that we are making. This is great news for West Virginia, and we are really looking forward to running across that finish line on that final day of the fiscal year.”

It is these type of revenue numbers and economic development efforts that have allowed state leaders to cut the personal income tax, with the car tax rebate set to begin next year.

State leaders have also funded critical needs projects in education and have boosted state workers’ pay four out of the last six years.

And Hardy believes the positive numbers will continue to roll in, with the impact of the personal income tax cut only beginning to be felt.

While some residents may choose to save some of the increased money they are seeing in their paychecks through the tax cut, Hardy believes people are more apt to spend it.

“It is very likely that a large percentage of that sum will be spent on big ticket items and other items in general,” he said. “We expect that we’re going to see much of that money returned to us by way of consumer sales tax.”

And Justice believes residents are only beginning to see more money returned to them in the way of tax cuts.

“We want to be conservative and not get out over our skis,” he said. “But absolutely, without any question, we’re going to be able to benefit the people of West Virginia more. Are we going to be able to benefit more on additional tax relief immediately? I don’t know. We’ll have to have a lot of discussion about that.”

But he still firmly believes that if West Virginia can fully eliminate the personal income tax, it will be more incentive for businesses and people to move to the Mountain State.

“The more we lower the taxes, the more people will come. That’s all there is to it — it’s as simple as that,” he said. You know where I stand: The more aggressively we can lower our state income tax, there is nothing — guaran-flat-tee — there is nothing that will drive growth to this state more than that.”

While critics like to find other reasons for West Virginia’s success, it’s hard to argue with Justice’s results.

He promised a rocket-ship ride, and he’s certainly led an effort that has provided record-breaking revenue numbers and historic tax cuts along the way.

His vision has helped set the pathway, lawmakers have found ways to further position the state for greatness and the Justice administration and state workers have implemented changes that have led to prosperity.

Justice is right: We should all be proud.