SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 10
(By Senators Ross, Love, Helmick, Sharpe, Dittmar, Kessler,
Anderson, Craigo, Chafin, Bowman, Schoonover, Deem, Plymale,
Hunter, Walker, Ball and Edgell)
Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance, in
cooperation with the Department of Tax and Revenue, to
conduct a study to review and consider, for a revenue
neutral result, the benefit of replacing ad valorem taxes on
natural resources with an expanded severance tax on natural
resources; and, if feasible, to develop a plan for
distribution of the revenue between the education systems,
county governments and city governments of the state.
Whereas, Ad valorem taxes, by their nature, constitute a
significant burden on both the citizens of the state and the
state's industry; and
Whereas, The ad valorem tax burden on the citizens and
industry of this state has dramatically increased over the past
several years, particularly upon those persons having fixed
incomes; and
Whereas, A removal of ad valorem taxes would operate substantial relief to the people of this state and make the state
a more attractive venue for heavy industry; and
Whereas, Other states have successfully implemented a
conversion from ad valorem taxation to a form of universal
severance taxation; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance, in
cooperation with the Department of Tax and Revenue, is hereby
requested to conduct a study to review and consider a plan to
abolish ad valorem taxes on natural resources in this state and
impose, for a revenue neutral result, an expanded severance tax
on natural resources and report its findings and recommendations
to the Legislature in the year two thousand; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct
this study and to prepare a report the report be paid from legislative
appropriations to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.