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State revenue numbers continue freefall
By Pamela Pritt, Register-Herald Reporter
As lawmakers await the call for a special session to deal with a shortfall in the 2017 budget, this year's state revenues continue to free fall, with a gaping budget hole of $218.7 million.
Revenue numbers were $72.2 million below estimates in April.
While energy sector severance taxes continue to plummet, it was April's personal income tax line item that revealed...
WV budget special session may start in later this month
By Phil Kabler, Staff Writer
Earl Ray Tomblin likely will call a special session to take up the 2016-17 state budget later this month, whether there’s agreement in the Legislature on a budget plan or not, Revenue Secretary Bob Kiss said Wednesday.
“We’re probably talking about doing that sometime in May because of the critical nature of getting something in place,” Kiss said of the timing for a...
Grover Norquist tax pledge could affect WV budget talks
By Phil Kabler, Staff Writer
Activist Grover Norquist is best known for the pledge he gives to political candidates promising to oppose any tax increases.
One factor contributing to the now 52-day state budget impasse could be that one-fourth of the members of the House of Delegates have signed Republican political activist Grover Norquist’s no tax increase pledge.
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Education, public health organizations & others join calls for $1 cigarette tax hike
By Shauna Johnson, WV MetroNews
An increase of at least $1 to the state tax on a pack of cigarettes could make the difference for West Virginia’s physical and fiscal health, according to representatives from a coalition of West Virginia education, public health and faith-based community organizations.
As state budget talks continue, those groups came together...
House leaders target cuts topping $100 million, but offer few specifics
By Jeff Jenkins, WV MetroNews
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- House of Delegates Speaker Tim Armstead said Tuesday on MetroNews “Talkline” he’s trying to get agreement on more than $100 million in state budget cuts as part of the ongoing discussions concerning the next state budget.
Lawmakers and Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin are faced with a $270 million budget hole in the budget year that begins July...