As I was flipping through the channels last night, I found a great, low-budget show that the WV Library Commission sponsors: "Coal Seam". On this edition of Coal Seam, guests from the Logan County Commission and West Virginia Citizens for Coal explained the benefits of coal for West Virginia and the United States. The following benefits are just some of the highlights:
The coal severance tax benefits all of West Virginia. Though there are 55 counties in WV that accept these taxes, twenty-some of them actually produce the coal... and just 7-8 extract a vast majority of the state's gross production. The taxes, according to Art Kirkendoll-Logan County Commissioner, are split according to 75-25. 75% of the taxes benefit the county from which the minerals were extracted, and 25% of the taxes are exported to support programs throughout the state- many counties receiving dollars without extracting a single piece of coal.
Also, in Logan County for example, residents have access to an elaborate fire, ambulance, and police service to support ALL residents within the county, and in surrounding counties if needed. The funding for these services come from a levy, of which 80% is funded by the corporations of Logan County. So there are two options, if these mining companies cease to exist because of Cap and Trade, etc.
First, homeowners will be forced to pay more property taxes to support the levy- including lower income families.
Or second, these emergency services lose funding and provide sub-standard services at best.
This leads into the next point, in emergency services and coal companies assist with drastic flooding that all West Virginians in the Southern coal fields are all to familiar with. Many coal companies offer their machinery to assist with clean-up, and Commissioner Kirkendoll said counties assist each other: machinery, man-power, and support.
Further, the show emphasized the need for the passage of more extensive mine reclamation economic planning- taking advantage of the manpower, machines, and engineers to move the land in such a way that allows an easy transition to economic post-mining development. This would save many tax payer dollars, and perhaps make projects that seem too expensive more feasible. Let's not forget that some of West Virginia's most beautiful tourist destinations are built upon reclaimed mine sites, including the Pete Dye Golf Club in Bridgeport, WV (home of a professional golf tournament annually).
Let's understand the benefits, and drawbacks, of heavy coal production in order to have a thorough debate in the future.
The coal severance tax benefits all of West Virginia. Though there are 55 counties in WV that accept these taxes, twenty-some of them actually produce the coal... and just 7-8 extract a vast majority of the state's gross production. The taxes, according to Art Kirkendoll-Logan County Commissioner, are split according to 75-25. 75% of the taxes benefit the county from which the minerals were extracted, and 25% of the taxes are exported to support programs throughout the state- many counties receiving dollars without extracting a single piece of coal.
Also, in Logan County for example, residents have access to an elaborate fire, ambulance, and police service to support ALL residents within the county, and in surrounding counties if needed. The funding for these services come from a levy, of which 80% is funded by the corporations of Logan County. So there are two options, if these mining companies cease to exist because of Cap and Trade, etc.
First, homeowners will be forced to pay more property taxes to support the levy- including lower income families.
Or second, these emergency services lose funding and provide sub-standard services at best.
This leads into the next point, in emergency services and coal companies assist with drastic flooding that all West Virginians in the Southern coal fields are all to familiar with. Many coal companies offer their machinery to assist with clean-up, and Commissioner Kirkendoll said counties assist each other: machinery, man-power, and support.
Further, the show emphasized the need for the passage of more extensive mine reclamation economic planning- taking advantage of the manpower, machines, and engineers to move the land in such a way that allows an easy transition to economic post-mining development. This would save many tax payer dollars, and perhaps make projects that seem too expensive more feasible. Let's not forget that some of West Virginia's most beautiful tourist destinations are built upon reclaimed mine sites, including the Pete Dye Golf Club in Bridgeport, WV (home of a professional golf tournament annually).
Let's understand the benefits, and drawbacks, of heavy coal production in order to have a thorough debate in the future.
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