On February 13, 2014, Governor Tomblin released his FY 2014 budget, setting the state’s priorities for the coming year. While West Virginia avoided the major budget problems that plagued many other states during the recession and its aftermath, recent events have finally caught up to the state’s budget, and many programs and agencies will see…
Reports & Briefs
In 2012, SB 532/HB 4387 was introduced requiring all West Virginia voters to present official government-issued photo identification in order to vote. The Voter ID law was reintroduced for the 2013 legislative session (SB 13/HB 2215). Based on national data and the experiences of other states, it is estimated that the implementation costs of a…
On the eve of the 50th anniversary of the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) report, this new report revisits many of the same measures of well-being that ARC researchers examined a half-century ago. This analysis, however, focuses its attention on West Virginia, the one state that exists entirely within the federally designated Appalachian region, and, more…
West Virginia Ends 2012 on a Positive Note Total nonfarm employment grew by 900 jobs in December, ending 10 straight months of job loss for the state. West Virginia had a total of 746,900 jobs in December, still 13,400 jobs below its prerecession level (Figure 1). West Virginia’s unemployment rate rose to 7.5 percent, up…
November Another Setback for Jobs in West Virginia November marked West Virginia’s tenth month in a row of job losses. Total nonfarm employment fell by 900 jobs taking it to 13,900 jobs below the state’s prerecession level and it lowest level since early 2010 (Figure 1). The state’s unemployment rate fell slightly to 7.3 percent…
West Virginia’s children are struggling to attend school, develop healthy lifestyles, and receive their high school diploma. During the 2011/2012 school year, one in three students in West Virginia had at least five unexcused absences from school. Truant children often fall behind their peers, perform worse in school, and are more likely to drop out. More than one…
The severance tax is not only an important source of revenue for the state’s budget; it also provides a substantial amount of revenue to local governments in West Virginia. In FY 2011, approximately $43.8 million in severance tax revenue was distributed to county and municipal governments throughout the state, including $37.7 million in coal severance…
Jobs Market Shows Signs of Life in October West Virginia’s jobs market showed signs of stabilizing in October, as the state added 200 jobs, after losing nearly 3,000 jobs a month for the past three months. Total nonfarm employment stood at 747,600, 12,700 jobs below the state’s pre-recession level (Figure 1). The state’s unemployment rate…
Every day in West Virginia, thousands of low-income families rely on public child care assistance. In 2011, the West Virginia Child Care Program – which is funded primarily through the federal Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and state matching funds – provided financial assistance to more than 24,000 children whose parents…
Job loss accelerates in September - West Virginia’s disappointing trend of losing jobs continued in September as the state shed 3,200 jobs, marking the eighth straight month of job loss. So far in 2012, only January has seen a monthly increase in jobs. Total nonfarm employment stood at 747,500 in September, 12,800 jobs below its pre-recession…