Comment on WV House, Senate tax plans in jeopardy

By Phil Kabler Prospects were in doubt Monday for West Virginia House and Senate bills to lower state income tax rates, making up for lost revenue with sales taxes expanded to cover groceries and several professional and personal services that are currently exempted. The Senate Finance Committee postponed consideration of a bill that would cut income tax collection by more than $520 million in its first year but would raise nearly $450 million a year with a 7 percent sales tax and with a 3.5 percent tax on food (SB 409). "There's a lot of unanswered questions and concerns," Senate Finance Chairman Mike Hall, R-Putnam, said in laying over the bill Monday. Several senators raised concerns that the bill shifts the tax burden from the wealthy to middle-class consumers, and while it adds about $61 million in revenue in the upcoming budget year, it would create future revenue shortfalls in the following years. Sen.