W.Va. Gov. Wants A Population Boom And A Disney Theme Park. His Plan? Income Tax Cuts

When Republican Gov. Jim Justice of West Virginia rolled out a plan earlier this month to reduce the state's personal income tax, he referred to maps and charts that showed that the state has been hemorrhaging population. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, West Virginia is the only state to have lost population, overall, since 1950.

Justice said now is the moment to try something bold to turn the population decline around. West Virginia has been in the national spotlight for its rollout of the coronavirus vaccine.

"How we've handled COVID and how we've handled the economics of COVID, really and truly, we have knocked it out of the park," the governor said.

Under Justice's plan, all tax filers would see a 60% cut on wages and salaries, as well as social security, unemployment and retirement benefits.

But the plan would cost the state more than a billion dollars — or nearly a quarter — of its general revenue budget. To account for that revenue loss, Justice has proposed massive hikes on tobacco, alcohol and soda taxes.