CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- West Virginia's Senate has voted to raise the state's gas tax by 4.5 cents a gallon while the House narrowly advanced a 1 percent cut in the state sales tax while cutting exemptions for legal, accounting and telecommunication services.
The 27-6 vote on Saturday backs Gov. Jim Justice's proposal to raise the basic state excise tax on gasoline by 4.5 cents per gallon to 25 cents on July 1.
The bill will now continue to the House for consideration.
The House of Delegates 50-44 vote Saturday allows a bill to advance that would cut the state's consumer sales tax next year from 6 percent to 5 percent. Additionally, the bill would eliminate the current exemption for food, and tax groceries at 3 percent.
The House will now consider possible amendments to be added to the bill.