Keeping our Children in the Classroom

A recent legislative audit concludes that 27% of West Virginia teens fail to graduate in four years with their classmates. Dropouts often cause damage to themselves as well as their home regions. Unless they go back to earn GED diplomas, studies show dropouts are more likely to fall into poverty, drugs, unwed parenthood, crime and other downward paths.

Part of the solution includes the expanding career technical programming for 8-10th graders, all day programs at Carver and Ben Franklin and to use computer based credit recovery so all can graduate on time.  The graduation rate for students who enter Career Technical programs is 97% and the job placement rate is almost 100%.  Sharon Spencer succeeded in obtaining four extra classrooms at both of Kanawha's career centers -- to be used for special training of dropouts and potential quitters, to boost their chances of graduation.  She believes that a post-secondary education should not be closed to anyone with the ability to succeed. Through the Promise Scholarship and the Higher Education Grant Program, West Virginia is helping to making higher education opportunities a reality for thousands of its residents.

 Protection from sexual predators
Sexually Violent Predator Act must be exacted as a subsequent act to the Position of Trust act of 2005. This act states that a perpetrator must show a history of sexual violence, a current mental disorder or abnormality and the likelihood of the commission of future sex crimes. A civil commitment would follow a jury trial and it would be to evaluate the sexual offense risk in the individual. Since the recidivism rate is high and 16 states have moved in this direction, it is good sound policy to protect our citizens from violent crimes of repeat sexual predators.

Expanding technology in the classroom

We must continue to bring and expand the 21st century into every classroom in West Virginia. There is a vast realm of knowledge waiting for our children to tap into. Computers are powerful tools to teach children to read better, develop writing skills, and better understand math.  Sharon Spencer understands that in order for our students to become competitive, we must give them access to a computer, good software and trained teachers. In addition, Sharon believes that every child should have the knowledge necessary to access the internet. The State must also take advantage of satellite technology, bringing a whole new world of opportunity for learning into our classrooms.

Bring fairness to our personal property tax system

We must keep the tax system for personal property tax fair and just.  You pay a tax when you purchase a car.  Then, each year you pay a personal property tax for the privilege of owning a car.  This does not seem fair. There should be a limit of $10,000 placed on this privilege tax which would still bring in money from the most expensive of trucks, which cause the most damage to our roads. This modified tax would prevent those with poor or no transportation from being brought under an unfair tax system.  In addition, while we are paying this privilege tax of owning a vehicle, we have to pay a sales tax if we happen to sell the vehicle during this time. We are taxed into poverty and have little choice but to own a car if we hope to hold down a job.

Legislation to cap property tax increases at 10% per year so that the taxpayers in each county will not be burdened with substantial increases in any one year. Also, as property value decreases, assessors are required to reduce the value as well.   Quite simply, if a property's value goes down, so should it's tax.   In addition, if a home is destroyed or damaged due to a flood or fire, homeowners should not be required to pay the previous year’s value for a home that no longer exists.

Catastrophic flood assistance – per above – if the homeowner applies to FEMA and is awarded public assistance and then applies to the county assessor to be relieved from the responsibility to pay property taxes for that particular year or until the property is reassessed.

Fix the 911 fee situation for Kanawha County

In 2010, Sharon Spencer supported new legislation that will bring harsher penalties to those who interfere or disable 911 service.  In 2006, The Legislature chose to change the way it dealt with taxes regarding the 911 fee and placed a $3 fee on cell phones. Sharon was one of only two delegates from this district who refused to support this legislation.  Because of this drastic change to the 911 fee here in Kanawha County, the County Commission will be forced to levy huge tax increases on both business and residential land lines in Kanawha County. The overall effect will cost taxpayers millions of dollars.

No automatic tax hikes

The Legislature must be held accountable to the people in imposing of taxes. Some taxes such as the gas tax have a phase in quality where as gas prices go up so does the tax. As taxes of all sorts increase, the legislature should have to put their names on the line and be held accountable.

 Stopping de facto electioneering

Action has been taken to help prevent insurance companies from sending out mail citing either rate increases or decreases and specifically naming the governor as the one responsible. This type of commentary amounts to either campaigning for or against the governor and could lead to favoritism or undue pressure by the insurance companies.