West Virginia is proving something powerful right now: when you focus on the basics, tighten the budget, and let the free market work, good things happen. That progress puts us in a position to do what the government too often forgets to do: return money to the people who earned it. That’s why I am calling on the State Legislature to pass a 10 percent across-the-board income tax cut.

Over the past year, my administration has made difficult but necessary choices. We tightened spending, restructured government, reduced costs, and focused relentlessly on fixing our state budget. Those decisions were not easy, but they were essential to putting West Virginia on stronger financial footing. Because of that work, five percent of this proposed tax cut is already paid for. Now it’s time to finish the job.

West Virginians deserve to keep more money in their pockets. I hear you: families across our state are feeling real affordability pressures, from grocery bills to energy costs. The most effective way to provide relief is to let people keep more of their well-earned income. It’s the people’s money, not the government’s.

What we’re doing is working. Since October alone, nearly $6.5 billion in new private-sector investment has been announced in West Virginia, creating more than 7,000 projected jobs across the energy, manufacturing, and infrastructure industries. When combined with federal investments supported by our President Donald Trump, such as broadband expansion and rural health initiatives, the Mountain State will have $8 billion in investments and more than 8,000 projected jobs since this time last year.

These aren’t just temporary jobs. We’re looking at long-term wins that will serve the people of West Virginia for years to come. We’re creating the type of economic framework that will allow our people to build careers and raise families right here at home.

We’re seeing record-breaking investment because we’ve focused on the fundamentals: site readiness, critical infrastructure, cutting red tape, and eliminating burdensome regulations that function like disguised taxes. When the government gets out of the way, opportunity moves in. That’s why lowering the state income tax is the next logical step.

More investments mean lower income taxes and higher-paying positions. I’m grateful for the support of Grover Norquist at Americans for Tax Reform, who stood alongside me in Parkersburg to address the growing need for fiscal relief. He understands that states that protect taxpayers and reward work are the states that grow. Across the country, the race to zero income tax is heating up, and West Virginia cannot afford to fall behind.

This all ties back to our Backyard Brawl. Ohio and Kentucky are looking to cut their income taxes, which have been the bane of states’ existence for years. Our neighbors are positioning themselves aggressively to attract workers and employers. Meanwhile, Virginia is looking to increase taxes. If we want to win, we must stay ahead of our competitors. A 10 percent income tax cut makes West Virginia a more attractive option both for our families that have been here for generations, and for those looking to call our state home.

Some people have asked me whether we can afford this tax cut, and I’m proud to say the answer is yes. A year ago, this may not have been possible. But, with a lot of planning and foresight, we’ve put in the hard work to make it happen. Strong state revenue, a significant surplus, and responsible budgeting give us room to act. By failing to act, we’re failing the everyday citizens who work hard to pay these taxes.

I’ve asked the Legislature to work collaboratively with my administration to identify additional savings and offsets to complete the remaining five percent of this cut. We fought to reduce the size and scope of government, and we’ll continue to prioritize people over bureaucracy. This is a realistic, fiscally responsible proposal, but it requires partnership.

I believe income taxes punish hard work. They discourage productivity and slow down growth. It’s wrong to put barriers in front of people who want to get ahead, which is why it’s time to remove any blockades to help our families, attract investments, and strengthen our state for the long term. To the legislature: let’s find that remaining five percent and make it happen.

West Virginia is on the right path. Now is not the time to slow down. We must double down on what’s working, return money to the people, and keep winning the Backyard Brawl. A 10 percent across-the-board income tax cut does exactly that. It’s time to make it happen.

Morrisey is the governor of West Virginia.