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Legislature passes bill to help Boone pay school workers
Ryan Quinn , Staff Writer
The House of Delegates voted 72-19 Tuesday to approve a bill to give Boone County Schools the extra money that county officials said they need to give employees their final paychecks on time this month.
The state Senate approved the bill (SB 1010) Monday, and it heads to Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin’s desk for a signature. At the start of this month, Tomblin expanded the special...
14 percent of WV students ‘chronically absent’
Ryan Quinn , Staff Writer
About 14 percent of West Virginia’s public school students — 40,000 out of 283,800 pupils in kindergarten through 12th grade — missed at least 15 days of school in the 2013-14 school year, according to an Associated Press analysis of federal data released last week.
Data was reported for all West Virginia counties except Tucker, where school officials said employee turnover was to...
Special session over; lawmakers leave Charleston
By Jeff Jenkins, WV MetroNews
State lawmakers ended their special session on the state budget Tuesday evening after passing several bills including a new funding source to stabilize the Public Employees Insurance Agency.
The bill (HB123) gives authority to the state revenue secretary during the next four budget years to sweep revenue accounts to come up with $15 million for PEIA. Most of the money will be...
WV lawmakers end special session with budget, PEIA bills
Phil Kabler , Staff Writer
Closing out a 17-day special session, West Virginia legislators put the final touches on a $4.187 billion 2016-17 state budget on Tuesday — including amending it to include a new reserve fund to lessen the impact of pending premium increases for retirees and public employees covered by the Public Employees Insurance Agency.
House Democrats, in particular, raised concerns...
Tomblin offers PEIA funding incentive to gain House votes on tobacco tax
By Matt Maccaro, WV MetroNews
Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin sweetened the pot Sunday in an effort to persuade House Democrats on a 65-cent tobacco increase as part of his budget plan.
Tomblin promised that proceeds from the cigarette tax—a key part of his revamped budget— would help fund the state’s Public Employee Insurance Agency.
“One would provide $15 million in additional general...