House Amends, Returns Senate Budget Bill For Further Tweaks

The West Virginia Legislature is one step closer to having a complete budget. 

The House of Delegates Wednesday advanced an amended version of Senate Bill 250 — the upper chamber’s budget.

The original Senate proposal hewed closely to Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s original budget proposal presented to lawmakers the day after his State of the State speech. A primary amendment presented by House Finance Chair Vernon Criss, R-Wood, would bring state appropriations $30 million under the governor’s revenue estimate of $5.5 billion.

“This budget includes across the board pay raises averaging 3%, and a 3% increase in the PEIA employer share,” he said. “Notable changes from the introduced budget include funding Medicaid through the general revenue instead of the surplus and alternative funding structure for [the] Hope Scholarship program.”

The House Finance Committee originated a bill last week to limit state spending on the Hope Scholarship program that, among other things, would freeze funding for the school voucher program at its current level rather than increasing with the state funding formula for public schools. But the committee has not picked the bill back up despite putting it on their agenda several times. 

Wednesday’s amendment did reduce funding for the program from the governor’s request of $230 million to $211 million, but Criss had a constitutional reason for the reduction.

“We are funding [the] Hope Scholarship at the level the governor wants for one year, not for a year and a half,” he said. “Because constitutionally, you cannot force another legislature with an obligation from this legislature, and that’s what you’re doing by funding it a year and a half out.”

Criss further explained that a $20 million remainder in the program’s account will make up the difference for the year between the bill and the requested funding from the treasurer.

Criss also clarified that no tax cuts would be found in this version of the budget despite a request from the governor to cut income tax by 10% this year.

“These are expenditures. This is an expenditure bill, OK, right?” Criss said. “The tax there is a tax cut bill that the Senate has sent over. We will take that up at a later time when we start taking up Senate bills.”

The bill now returns to the Senate for further amendments and negotiation.

The state budget is the only bill the legislature is constitutionally required to pass.