WHEELING — Delegate Patrick McGeehan subscribes to the philosophy that a shrinking population shouldn’t require a growing government.

McGeehan, R-Hancock, plans to introduce legislation next year establishing a “Taxpayers’ Bills of Rights” in West Virginia. The measure would limit the annual growth in state government and taxation, permitting tax increases only when collected revenues exceed triggers based on the annual inflation rate and the annual percentage change in the state’s population.

“It’s a good concept that can work well, and helps to keep politicians accountable for the money they spend,” McGeehan said. “It basically helps limit politicians from being able to easily go back to the taxpayer to force them to pay more in order to solve every problem.

McGeehan said the details of his planned legislation will take some time to develop.

“The wording has to be right — otherwise it can be sidestepped too easily,” he said.

“But the bottom line is the law would require population and existing revenue to be taken into account, and new taxes could not be considered unless a list of strict criteria was met.”

His planned measure comes just weeks after multiple bills aimed at tax reform in the state were rejected during a special session of the West Virginia Legislature. McGeehan was among delegates in the House opposed to most tax-increasing measures.

“I’ve been witness to many elected officials in Charleston tossing aside their concern for the taxpayer, and quickly changing their minds in favor of simply raising taxes because a few thought doing so would just solve everything,” McGeehan said. “When they are home talking to constituents, they’ll say they would never do such a thing. But they always go right back to the Capitol behind closed doors and sing a different tune.”

McGeehan said he shares his constituents’ frustration with government.

“Many of my constituents are struggling to make ends meet. Many don’t feel they get a good return on their investment for the taxes they pay now. And I don’t blame them, because they don’t,” he said. “We may see difficult times ahead, and I’d like to head off the urge many will have in Charleston to simply force people to pay more for services they will never receive.”

The 2018 state budget recently passed by the Legislature sets state spending at $4.225 billion. But McGeehan points out this figure doesn’t include highway dollars and other funding received from the federal government.

Approximately $12 billion in taxpayer money is spent each year in West Virginia, according to McGeehan.

“When you look at the size of government in West Virginia, you have to look at our trend in population and we are the only state that is losing population at the current time,” he said. “When you consider that phenomenon — combined with government spending going upward — something is wrong here.”