The 2019 Legislative Session has just begun and Governor Jim Justice released his proposed budget and stated his funding priorities for the upcoming fiscal year in his State of the State speech on Wednesday. While promising to give state employees and school workers another five-percent raise, he also wants to eliminate the industrial property tax…
Budget Beat
West Virginia's sixty-day legislative session starts Wednesday, January 9. Stay tuned to Budget Beat each Friday as we bring you a recap of the week's legislative developments, from the governor's state of state address on Wednesday night, to the fate of key pieces of legislation, to the discussion of the budget proposed for the upcoming…
The 2018 regular legislative session was certainly one to remember. West Virginia saw its first-ever statewide teachers strike, a host of bad bills introduced, and a governor often missing from the statehouse at critical times. Let’s take a look back at what happened and how low- and moderate-income West Virginians fared under the capitol dome…
Reggie Jones, who is the director of PRIDE Community Services in Logan, West Virginia, summed up the election best: "We're suffering in this state, and I don't see any end in sight." No matter who you voted for in the election, it is undeniably true that working families in West Virginia are struggling and have…
Last week it was WV Taxes at a Glance, this week we unveil WV Budget at a Glance. We hope these two easy-to-read mini reports help guide you through the complicated process that is the West Virginia state budget. Want an in-person discussion so you can learn more about West Virginia's budget process? Give us…
Join Us in the WVU Mountainlair - In Person or Streaming! Balancing the state budget has meant year after year of cuts to higher education funding in West Virginia. Public colleges and universities have been forced to respond with tuition hikes while the state's Promise scholarship has remained flat, putting college affordability out of reach…
Our Latest Spine-Chilling Reports There's been some scary talk about tax overhaul in recent months. One option that appears to be on the table for legislators is eliminating or reducing the business personal property tax. This reliable, constant revenue stream helps maintain West Virginia schools which would be forced to choose between cutting back in…
Medicaid at 50 Helping More West Virginians Live Healthier Lives Medicaid provides health coverage that helps low-income seniors, children and people with disabilities get needed health care. It provides parents and other adults economic security through health coverage that protect them from medical debt and allows them to stay healthy and work. It is jointly…
The Fast Fast Facts on "Right to Work" Check out our second edition of Fast Facts. This issue explains the real meaning of "Right to Work" and its broken promise of economic growth in states that have adopted it. It's a policy that could actually lower wages in West Virginia which already has a median…
Check Out Fast Facts! This summer we are launching a series of short publications to present the facts on issues of the day. Our premiere issue of Fast Facts is about the ongoing debate on the state's prevailing wage. This quick read will give you everything you need to know on this important issue impacting…