CHARLESTON — During his final State of the State address, Gov. Jim Justice struck a reflective tone but also urged West Virginians to keep moving forward.
“The first time you saw me, I stood before you pledging to fight for the soul of our state. We were staring down a dark tunnel. Our state was bankrupt. Our jobs and our people were leaving, and our spirit was broken,” Justice said during his annual address before state officials Wednesday evening.
“You remember those days? You remember what that was like? It wasn’t any fun, was it?”
Justice said the state has made significant financial progress since then, gaining the confidence to pass a 21.25% personal income tax last year.
“We’re at a different place today,” he said. “With all that together, what happened? The rocketship took off, didn’t it?“
Justice, a two-term Republican governor, said West Virginia still needs to strive for progress in areas like its economy and education, though. His address touched on some policy priorities and announcements.
“I would say to you, we’re a long ways from being done in West Virginia,” he said. “We’ve got jobs to create, schools to enhance and communities to lift. So let’s make this last year that we have and the decades to come better and better and better.”
Justice named six new businesses coming to locations around West Virginia.
The governor expressed support for average 5% pay raises for state workers and educators.
He outlined three tax breaks his administration is supporting:
One is a state child and dependent care tax credit. The next would exclude Social Security benefits from the state income tax. And the third would expand the senior citizen homestead property tax cut.
The governor, who declared an emergency in the state’s Corrections system in August 2022, described progress that has allowed a reduction of the number of National Guard personnel in corrections facilities. “And it is my hope beyond belief that by the end of the summer the National Guard will be out of our facilities and we’ll be able to solve this problem in many ways.”
Justice described several programs aimed at veterans. One is a bill that would provide in-state tuition for West Virginia higher education for any veteran who wants to take advantage. Another would extend the Ascend program to encourage veterans to settle in West Virginia.
The governor, who is also a high school basketball coach, was critical of legislation that allows greater latitude for high school athletes to transfer. Justice let the bill pass into law without his signature last year. Now, he said, the policy has messed up competitive balance.
“Now I don’t know exactly what the right solution is, but I’m telling you there’s some dadgum smart people in this room and today I am absolutely pleading with you to figure it out,” the governor told lawmakers. “And today I am absolutely pleading with you to figure it out.”
In conclusion, the governor said West Virginia still has untapped potential. He urged lawmakers and citizens to continue to strive for the state’s improvement.
“I would say to each and every one of you, keep sawin’ the wood,” the governor said.
