I asked Alvin Engelke, a man for which I personally value the opinion of, to provide insight on Amendment 2 that will be voted on, on the November 8th ballot. I ”attempted” to understand the ”book” that Alvin refers to myself, which was provided by the State, titled ”County by County Assessment Data And Potential Replacement Revenue. I personally am not business nor tax savvy enough to figure that out. I need layman terms. To read it for yourself, click the very long link below:
Alvin on the other hand, knows much about the political endeavors of the State, and thus, why I ask him for his opinion. Below is just that, un-edited and in true Alvin form. I also have business friends who agree with Amendment 2. I’ve reached out to them as well, and they will hopefully provide their view point. I want all of us to go to the polls informed. Feel free to add questions or comments in the comment section or on the Ridgeview Facebook page. Just keep it clean, or your post will be deleted and I’ll have to pray for you. ~ Shari Johnson, Ridgeview Publisher
From Alvin Engelke:
The numbers in the “book” are in error. Two examples, in Wood County it says that the assessment of Machinery & Equipment is $7,704,401.11. This obviously is in error for duPont pays over $5 million/year in personal property taxes.
Calhoun County is listed with machinery & equipment for $67,532.92. There is no value given for the White Oak compressor.
Doddridge County has the largest gas fractionation plant on the planet with a value of perhaps $20 billion but is only listed with $9,864.596.74 in value of Machinery & equipment.
Now, it could be that the numbers given are the taxes levied, not the values but that is not what it says. At last night’s meeting in Harrisville the pushers were adamant that machinery & equipment owned by “utilities” was not involved but we had only their word. I doubt that. The legislature’s promise to make up the difference would not be binding on future legislatures and the current state tax surplus may not continue. The reason for the present flush situation is gobs of federal $$ [those causing the inflation] and unreal severance tax collections from coal, oil & gas. The green new deal folks want all that shut down and while unrealistic it could happen.
In 1981 when I was working for a small oil & gas Company, Jimmy Carter, through tax policy, shut down drilling in the country and we were told we should “save our oil” and buy from his & Bert Lance’s Arab buddies. Drilling rigs were cut up for scrap and sent to steel mills in the orient. I too was laid off. The promoters were adamant again that the assessment value could not be raised from 60% to 100% to make up the difference. You had an assessor connection so you know what I am talking about.
(He’s speaking of my Dad, Gene Hardway, who was Assessor for several terms in Calhoun County. He also gives me far too much credit for listening to such matters back then. I did not, which is why I don’t understand it now.)
Sometimes it slips that we should be like our neighboring states because . . . . Well, our neighboring states have much higher taxes on homes and farmland. Some years back some of the fine folks down at the Mouth of the Elk said so out loud that business paid too much and homeowners got a free ride. Last night Eric Tarr did admit that the radio ads were misleading and that personal vehicles may not be given the tax break promised. All agreed [sorta] that the push is for the big players. Since the shale revolution hit there is been over $50 billion in infrastructure in W. Va. and you can bet your bottom dollar that is what we are talking about. Delegate Vernon Criss said, “vote for it so we in the legislature can talk about and work out something.” It was met by a response that Nancy Pelosi said “vote for it so you can find out what is in it”.
To me the bottom line is that the Taxation Limitation Amendment of 1932 has protected us now from higher taxes and legislatures for 90 years. Why would we give up the protection because of some slick talkers?
