When year-to-date budget revenues declined by $13.7 million in November, the governor reacted by ordering state agencies to cut 3.4 percent of their budgets. Read
Tax and Budget
Federal Recovery Act funding will prevent deep cuts in the state budget next year, as it has done this year. However, future budget shortfalls are on the horizon for West Virginia. This brief by the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy takes a close look at the governor's proposed budget for FY 2011 and…
While the Recovery Act continues to bolster Medicaid funding, other health programs fared less well in the Governor's budget. According to a new brief by the Center on Budget and Policy, several small programs (including the WV Center for End of Life) were zeroed out, while others (including the Tobacco Education Program) received substantial cuts. …
“Paying for Priorities” examines how this year’s state budget was developed, where the revenues are expected to come from, and how the funds will be allocated among state agencies and programs. Read
A summary of West Virginia's $178 million budget surplus for FY 2009. Read
Working West Virginians with modest incomes lost nearly $13 million of their 2006 federal income tax refunds to tax preparers who promised them “fast cash." Refund Anticipation Loans (RALs) provide high-interest credit or cash advances to tax filers based on their expected refunds and are marketed to those who need money quickly during tax season.…
This report describes the history and current methods of taxing one of the state’s most valuable resources. It is intended as a useful reference for county officials, coal companies, landowners, and local citizens. Morgantown-based Downstream Strategies prepared the report, in collaboration with the WV Center on Budget and Policy. Read
This report summarizes major appropriations resulting from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 that are likely to have the greatest impact on low- and moderate-income West Virginians. Read
The number of unemployed West Virginians has swelled by more than 10,000 over the past year, and the pace of job loss is accelerating. This poses significant challenges to the solvency of the state’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. Read
This report finds companies fail to deliver on job-creation promises after given publicly funded subsidies. Read