Tax and Budget

March 19, 2025 by Tamaya Browder
How Would the Loss of Federal Funding Affect WV School Districts?

Recent proposals from the Trump Administration and Congress aim to cut federal education funding and dismantle the United States Department of Education, contributing to the rising trend of disinvestment from public education. Federal funds support critical programs in West Virginia like Title I, which serves low-income children, Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA) funding to…

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March 15, 2025 by WVCBP
More School Funding Needed in Rural WV

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…

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March 13, 2025 by Tamaya Browder
Wood County: The Case for Reversing Course on the Hope Scholarship Expansion

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.…

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March 12, 2025 by Sean O'Leary
SJR 6 Would Give the Legislature Control Over $1 Billion in Local Property Tax Revenue

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,…

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February 26, 2025 by Kelly Allen
Skyrocketing Hope Scholarship Price Tag, Now Around $100M, a Concern for WV Lawmakers Making Budget

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. …

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February 19, 2025 by Kelly Allen
Federal Cuts Could Affect Local Schools, Including Low Income And Disabled Students, Says Budget Expert

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…

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