Data Centers Fund Counties But Tax Debate Rages | Charleston News

State Treasurer Larry Pack reveals how massive data center projects in Berkeley and Putnam Counties will generate over $100 million annually for local governments — but the math is trickier than it seems. While the $10 billion Berkeley project and $7 billion Putnam project promise big payouts, only about 2.5 billion dollars are actually taxable due to complex state tax rules. Most revenue goes to county commissions, schools, and a personal income tax reduction fund — though misconceptions abound, with actual allocations closer to 27% rather than the rumored 50%. Lawmakers like Delegate Shawn Fluharty argue West Virginia got a raw deal on tax rates and warn that without renegotiation, future deals could be even worse — even suggesting taxing the data itself. The report brings clarity, but the debate over fairness and long-term strategy is far from over. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/12cedc67206311b0