Associated Press Published

Governor Not Calling for Additional Budget Cuts

Secretary of Revenue Robert Kiss

Gov. Tomblin is telling state agencies to keep their budgets on par with this year’s spending plans.

The Charleston Daily Mail reports Revenue Secretary Bob Kiss last week sent instructions to agency heads on submitting 2016 budget requests. The 2015 fiscal year started in July.

After two years of 7.5 percent reductions, Kiss’ correspondence said additional funding would be considered only in rare cases.

Last week, the Department of Revenue announced general revenue fell $17.4 million short in July.

The shortfall was partly due to one-time revenue transfers carried over from June. Deputy Revenue Secretary Mark Muchow also pointed to sluggish sales and personal income tax growth as problematic.