This week, we’re revisiting our episode “What Is Appalachia?” from December 2021. Appalachia connects mountainous parts of the South, the Midwest, the Rust Belt and even the Northeast. That leaves so much room for geographic and cultural variation, as well as many different views on what Appalachia really is.
January State Revenue $13.8 Million Below Estimates
Gov. Patrick Morrisey will propose a new budget along with his State of the State on Feb. 12.WV Legislative Photography
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As fiscal concerns flare entering the legislative session, January’s Senate finance revenue report shows the state took in at least $13,800,000 less than the State Budget Office anticipated for the month.
West Virginia collected nearly $478,000,000 in general revenue last month, 2.8% below the roughly $491,000,000 revenue estimated by the State Budget Office.
The revenue report represents collections from three major tax sources: personal income tax, consumer sales and the use tax and severance tax — which comes from companies extracting natural resources in the state. It fluctuates depending on the market.
Actual Revenue
Expected Revenue
Percent Difference
Personal Income Tax
$217,556,057
$220,500,000
-1.34%
Severance Tax
$19,922,372
$48,000,000
-58.50%
Consumer Sales and Use Tax
$163,585,412
$158,200,000
3.40%
Table of revenue difference for the three major taxes the Senate finance report listed in detail. Credit: Caelan Bailey/West Virginia Public Broadcasting; Source: Budget Analyst Chris DeWitte, West Virginia Senate Finance Committee
With less severance tax revenue than expected, West Virginia’s corporate income tax revenue came in as the state’s third highest-revenue tax for January — totaling $27,603,000 in revenue and outpacing Budget Office estimates by 313.67%.
The state’s general revenue is behind last January’s general revenue performance and total revenue.
In addition to the major taxes, general revenue collections also represent corporate net income tax, tobacco tax and other taxes collected by the state. Lottery revenues are cataloged separately and reported at a delay; for December, lottery collections totaled $114,804,000, $16,576,000 above estimates.
Table of January revenue. Credit: Budget Analyst Chris DeWitte, West Virginia Senate Finance Committee
The fiscal year began July 1. The state is still ahead of estimates, with year-to-date collections ahead of predictions by nearly $28,000,000, or 0.89%.
For the next fiscal year, Gov. Patrick Morrisey says the state faces a $400 million deficit if West Virginia’s budget structure stays the same. This comes after years of personal incometax cuts and a lack of long-term projections from the governor’s office, which has exclusive access to some detailed state financial information.
On The Legislature This Week, the legislature gavels in and Gov. Patrick Morrisey lays out his vision in his state of the state address. We also hear the minority party’s response to the governor’s address.
The West Virginia Legislature is back in Charleston for the 2026 legislative session. Gov. Patrick Morrisey delivered his second State of the State to the legislature Wednesday night and is seeking a 3% pay raise for state workers and a 10% income tax cut, among other items. Also, in this show, Sen. Mike Woelfel and Del. Sean Hornbuckle offer the minority response.
With recent reports of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Huntington, students gathered at the center of Marshall University’s campus to voice their concerns for their fellow students and community members.
WVPB’s annual TV/radio simulcast The Legislature Today kicks off Jan. 16 through March 13. Every Friday at 6 p.m., our journalists will bring you the latest news from the West Virginia Legislature, including interviews with lawmakers and stakeholders. In our first episode this year, you’ll see an interview with Del. Sean Hornbuckle and Sen. Mike Woelfel, both minority leaders in their respective chambers and both from Cabell County. Here’s an excerpt.