Flying West Virginia's Slightly Less Taxed Skies

A Senate committee has endorsed and advanced Gov. Joe Manchin's proposal to "give a tax break to owners of aircraft parked or used in West Virginia," the Charleston Daily Mail reports.

As the newspaper explains, "Manchin's bill would tax airplanes and helicopters owned or leased by commercial airlines, charter carriers and private carriers - including companies that operate aircraft to transport employees or others for business purposes - at salvage value, which is 5 percent of the aircraft's original cost."

The Senate Economic Development Committee acted after officials estimated the $2.3 million in annual lost tax revenues would be offset by resulting growth.

Richard Wachtel, chairman of the West Virginia Aeronautics Commission, "said that by reducing the property tax on corporate jets stored in the state, West Virginia could attract more aircraft and, in turn, more related jobs, including pilots, mechanics, dispatchers and line service personnel," the Daily Mail reported. "Also, the state's airports could build and lease more hangars, counties and municipalities that own airports would receive more fees from the sale of jet fuel and the state would receive more sales tax revenue from the sale of jet fuel and aircraft services, he said."

The Associated Press also has a version of the story. The Charleston Gazette reports that officials in Kanawha County, home to the state's largest airport, support the bill.