Meet the moment — donate today

As a reader-supported West Virginian newsroom, we rely on your generosity to power our journalism.

Now through December 31, the Henry L. Kimelman Family Foundation will match your donation. We are committed to giving West Virginians the information they need to make our state a better place.

Donate Today!

Don't miss a story. Discover in-depth West Virginia journalism, right in your inbox.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get independent accountability reporting on the politics and policies shaping our state.

Don't miss a story. Discover in-depth West Virginia journalism, right in your inbox.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get independent accountability reporting on the politics and policies shaping our state.

Don't miss a story. Get in-depth West Virginia journalism in your inbox.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get independent accountability reporting on the politics and policies shaping our state.

  • EMAIL SIGN-UP
  • DONATE
  • News
  • Topics
    • Election 2024
    • West Virginia Legislature
    • COVID-19
    • Economy
    • Environment
    • Economic Justice
    • Health
    • Abortion
    • Investigations
    • Mountain State Spotlight explains
  • About us
    • About Mountain State Spotlight
    • Our team
    • Help us investigate
    • Our supporters
    • Careers
    • Contact us
    • 2024 Impact Report
  • Twitter
Skip to content
Mountain State Spotlight

Mountain State Spotlight

An independent, civic news organization for West Virginia

  • News
  • Topics
    • Election 2024
    • West Virginia Legislature
    • COVID-19
    • Economy
    • Environment
    • Economic Justice
    • Health
    • Abortion
    • Investigations
    • Mountain State Spotlight explains
  • About us
    • About Mountain State Spotlight
    • Our team
    • Help us investigate
    • Our supporters
    • Careers
    • Contact us
    • 2024 Impact Report
  • EMAIL SIGN-UP
  • DONATE
NEWSLETTERS

Tag: severance taxes

Posted inMountain State Spotlight explains

Mountain State Spotlight explains: Why West Virginia’s reliance on volatile severance taxes is problematic

Avatar photo by P.R. Lockhart April 10th, 2023July 27th, 2023

The tax on extracted resources, primarily coal and natural gas, is generating a large budget surplus in West Virginia. Lawmakers have used the surplus to justify income tax cuts but experts caution that the boom won’t last forever.

Support independent journalism

As a nonprofit newsroom, we don’t answer to corporate shareholders or political interests — only to you, the public.

But we also need your help to keep reporting. Will you join the hundreds of West Virginians who have committed to helping provide free journalism for everyone?

DONATE

Most Read

  • West Virginia has collected $34 million from its medical cannabis program. It hasn’t spent a penny.
  • Already contending with health care cuts, struggling West Virginians now face food stamp delays  
  • Sen. Shelley Moore Capito says there is no ethical problem with vote for son’s confirmation
  • We wanted to know who Gov. Morrisey meets with. His office stopped keeping track.
  • A bipartisan group of governors joined together to address rising power bills in the region. Morrisey didn't join them.

Footer Links

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Newsroom Policies
  • Steal Our Stories
  • Corrections
© 2025 An independent, civic news organization for West Virginia Powered by Newspack
  • Twitter