The Intermountain - Five years ago on Friday, March 13, 2020 Gov. Jim Justice announced a state of emergency, and all public places closed down. Private businesses were able to reopen sooner, but the public schools opened slowly because of concern for the health and safety of children. Randolph Co. Schools reopened after Labor Day…
Tax and Budget
As public education faces challenges of declining enrollment and persistent disinvestment of funding and resources, school closures and consolidations continue to threaten access to public education for children in our state. Twenty-five schools were proposed or approved for closure across the state this school year. One county that has been particularly affected is Wood County.…
Mountain State Spotlight, West Virginia Daily News, Times West Virginian - Next year, West Virginia taxpayers will subsidize any parent who doesn’t want to send their kid to public school. Read the full article. The price tag? $315 million. House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay, said he’s concerned about the state being able to afford the…
Senate Joint Resolution 6 would amend the state's constitution to allow the legislature to reduce or eliminate the ad valorem tax on automobiles and all other personal property, while calling on future legislatures to somehow replace the lost revenue. Like 2022's Amendment 2, which was rejected by West Virginia voters by nearly a two-to-one margin,…
Earlier this month, Governor Morrisey unveiled his proposed FY 2026 budget, which is now in the hands of the legislature to review, amend, and pass. Previously enacted tax cuts and the growing cost of the Hope Scholarship continue to crowd out much needed investments in the state's public services and institutions. Like previous budgets, Governor…
West Virginia Watch, Times West Virginian - The price tag for the Hope Scholarship, the state’s education savings account program, will double next year, climbing to more than $100 million. As budget concerns loom, lawmakers are questioning if the state can afford the program that is a hallmark of the Republican-heavy Legislature’s education freedom push. …
West Virginia Public Broadcasting - Just one month after his inauguration, the Trump administration has cut thousands of workers across the federal government. The Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, headed by Elon Musk, is looking to slash at least $1 trillion in federal spending across dozens of departments. Kelly Allen, executive director of the…
West Virginia Public Broadcasting - On this West Virginia Morning, new Senate President Randy Smith, R-Preston, spoke with news director Eric Douglas for The Legislature Today on Tuesday. They discussed Smith’s legislative priorities, including economic development and broadband issues. Read the full article. And amidst the cuts being made to federal programs, Kelly Allen, executive director of the…
Mountain State Spotlight, Times West Virginian , Charleston Gazette-Mail- For people across the state who said they need help with water, food, drug addiction and more, Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s proposed budget won’t bring any new money to the table to fix those issues. Read the full article. During budget hearings last week, Mike McKown, the…
Charleston Gazette-Mail - Having now covered State of the State addresses by seven governors, it’s fascinating how the substance, tone and delivery of something so conventional can vary so greatly. Read the full article. For instance, Cecil Underwood, Earl Ray Tomblin, and especially, Gaston Caperton, were not particularly gifted public speakers, while Bob Wise and…