State Funding Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

State Grants Available For Gov. Agencies Helping With Summer Drought Effects

The program reimburses eligible expenses incurred by local public agencies for water transportation to farms in counties experiencing severe or extreme drought conditions.

Gov. Jim Justice announced the Emergency Drought Relief Reimbursement Grant Program Friday.

The program reimburses eligible expenses incurred by local public agencies, fire departments, and conservation districts, for water transportation to farms in counties experiencing severe or extreme drought conditions.

Weeks of drought conditions have taken a toll on agriculture across the state this summer, devastating crops and livestock, particularly in the Eastern Panhandle.

“We know every ounce of water is important right now, and we’re very thankful to those lending a helping hand,” Justice said in a press release.

“This program makes sure that our farmers will continue to have access to all the necessary water supplies. We know this is a really hard time for our state that’s experiencing a terrible drought, and now, we need to pull the rope together to get through it. West Virginians are known for stepping up, and that’s exactly what we’re seeing during this hard time.”

Eligible applicants include:

State, regional, county, and municipal agencies, including emergency management agencies and county commissions assisting in water supply efforts.
Local and volunteer fire departments assisting in water supply efforts.
Conservation Districts as organized under West Virginia Code § 19-21A-1 assisting in water supply efforts.

Policies and procedures, including eligibility, can be found here, and applications are available here

Justice Hosts Bill Signing Ceremony At Firefighter Convention

Gov. Jim Justice ceremonially signed House Bill 5128 Friday at the West Virginia State Firemen’s Association’s annual convention in Julian, WV.

West Virginia firefighters at their annual conference had a reason to celebrate Friday.

Gov. Jim Justice ceremonially signed House Bill 5128 at the West Virginia State Firemen’s Association’s annual convention in Julian, WV.

“From the bottom of my heart, you are everything to us,” Justice said. “You’re the very people that we call so often. It’s off the chart. In my briefings or whatever I say, ‘Many people run to the fire.’ Well, you really run to the fire. Your bravery is unbelievable. Your sacrifice is unbelievable.”

HB 5128 automatically became law in June, 90 days after it passed out of the legislature.

It allocates $12 million annually from the state Lottery Fund to volunteer fire departments and other first responders across West Virginia.

“It’ll put $12 million towards the great volunteer fire departments all across the state and make more good stuff happen, whether it be people or equipment or whatever,” Justice said. “It’ll save lives. It’ll save bunches of lives.”

Emergency services across West Virginia have struggled with dwindling tax funding in recent years, leading to retention and recruitment issues.

The funds will be distributed through three mechanisms. $6 million will go through the Fire Protection Fund, to be evenly distributed to volunteer fire departments across the state to maintain and enhance day-to-day operations.

$3 million will be distributed through the All County Fire Protection Fund on a pro-rata basis according to population to fire departments across each county. The remaining $3 million will be distributed through the County Fire Protection Fund to counties with an excess levy or dedicated fee for first responder services in place. County Commissions will then allocate the funds to fire or emergency management services.

Justice Announces New State Budget Surplus Amid State Program Funding Questions

Gov. Jim Justice announced Wednesday that for the first half of Fiscal Year 2024, the state’s general revenue collections stand at $406.4 million ahead of the cumulative estimate.

Gov. Jim Justice announced Wednesday that for the first half of Fiscal Year 2024, the state’s general revenue collections of more than $2.766 billion stand at $406.4 million ahead of the cumulative estimate.

In a related press release, Justice said December 2023 surplus collections came in at $553.2 million, which is $120.1 million above the official estimate. He said the surplus was driven by a strong performance from personal income taxes and corporate net income taxes.

Justice said the surplus numbers are even more prominent when figuring in a 21.25 quarter percent personal income tax cut.

“That is with an amazing, amazing, largest in the state history, tax cut that we delivered to all of our people,” Justice said. “Well in excess of $750 million on top of this.”

Independent state budget analysts have said surplus numbers are partially driven by maintaining “flat” budgets, by setting monthly revenue collection estimates artificially low and by underfunding various state agencies and programs.

During the briefing, Justice was asked about finding a permanent funding source for volunteer fire departments (VFDs) and using state funds to reduce jail and prison overcrowding. In both cases, he said there was surplus money to help but gave no specific answers on how that help will come.

“That’s what we build our surpluses for,” Justice said about funding VFDs. “With all interest, we’re gonna find it and we’re gonna get it done.”

Thousands Of W.Va. Families Await Possible Appeal Of Hope Scholarship Program

Joseph Gay, an attorney with the Institute for Justice, represents two of the 3,000 or so students already awarded Hope Scholarships. He said an appeal has merit since Hope Scholarship funds come from a different appropriation process than the public school budget.

Last week, Kanawha County Circuit Judge Joanna Tabit determined the state program that offers state funding for private education violates several constitutional provisions. She ordered an injunction.

Tabit’s ruling made the Hope Scholarship program null and void. She said the program undermines an already underfunded public school system. She said the legislature violated its constitutional obligation by passing a statute diverting millions of taxpayer dollars and incentivising people to leave the public schools, causing a reduction of students which will decrease funding for school teachers and all support staff.

“It’s not taking any money at all from West Virginia Public Schools,” Gay said. “In fact, choice programs can and do work hand in hand with public schools because for the first time public schools actually have to compete for students. Now they have an incentive to actually improve the education that they’re providing to the students who remain in public schools.”

Gay said he will push for a stay on Tabit’s injunction while a court hears the appeal. He said the program needs to continue for at least the fast approaching school year because families have organized their lives around the nearly $4,300 promised in educational funding.

“They’ve enrolled in schools, they’ve chosen curriculum, some people have made financial decisions and job decisions based on the existence of these funds,” Gay said. “They basically had the rug pulled out from underneath them at the last moment, really about five or six weeks before the academic year begins.”

Gay is not sure yet who will hear the appeal, the West Virginia Supreme Court – or the new Intermediate Court of Appeals.

He said his legal team will cooperate with West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, who is also appealing the ruling.

Funding For Trails, Sidewalks, Bike Paths Announced In W.Va.

West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice has announced more than $8.3 million in projects for recreational trails, sidewalks, and biking and walking paths.

The 29 improvement projects in 21 counties will be funded by the Federal Highway Administration.

“This program will provide millions of dollars that is going to be put to work making our cities and towns easier to get around and making our beautiful park trails even more appealing and accessible to West Virginians of all abilities,” Justice said in a statement Monday.

The projects include nearly $1.1 million for sidewalk replacement in the city of Martinsburg, $934,000 for a bike and pedestrian path in Barboursville Park in Cabell County, and nearly $660,000 for replacement sidewalks in the Boone County community of Madison.

Other funding includes improvements along the Hatfield-McCoy Trail System and the Greenbrier River Trail, new bike trails within Cacapon State Park and the construction of boardwalk and observation areas along a trail within Twin Falls Resort Park.

W.Va. Dept. of Commerce Requests More State Dollars

The West Virginia Department of Commerce gave the House and Senate Finance committees a presentation Monday morning to explore the state’s competitiveness in attracting businesses.

The Commerce department also asked for a significant increase in its funding. However, that request collided with the reality of the state’s dire budget situation.

The Joint Standing Committee on Finance met in the House Chamber for the Department of Commerce’s informational meeting. The presentation was part of Governor Jim Justice’s Save Our State plan to bring more business and jobs to West Virginia.

The presentation explored ways the state could improve its competitive standing by enhancing infrastructure, building up a stronger workforce, and identifying good site building locations. Presenters also said that so-called Right-to-Work legislation has been a positive factor in attracting some businesses to the state.

But the state’s Right-to-Work legislation has not been fully implemented in West Virginia yet. It’s been challenged in a court case, and deemed unconstitutional by a Kanawha County Judge. The case will likely be decided by the West Virginia Supreme Court.

The Department of Commerce Cabinet Secretary Woody Thrasher says that even though the state is facing a budget shortfall this year, it’s not the time to cut the Commerce Department.

“West Virginia is dead last, and the reason we’re dead last, is a variety of reasons, but relative to the Department of Commerce, it’s because we do not have the tools in our toolbox to attract business specifically, really good sites,” Thrasher said, “I think we’re doing a really good job on workforce training. I think we’ve got a great quality of life, but we are way behind everybody else when it comes to having sites ready.”

Thrasher told lawmakers the Department of Commerce would need at least $35 million in increased funding for improving the state’s business climate, attracting more industry, and for site readiness.

House Finance Vice-Chair Eric Householder, of Berkeley County, says he felt inspired by the presentation, but he says increasing the Department’s budget could be tough.

“Right now, it’s going to be extremely difficult,” Householder said, “Currently we fund Commerce roughly around $10 million a year. It’s a tough budget year, as we all know, and it’s going to be extremely difficult, but we’re gonna do what we can. You gotta keep in mind, we’re trying to get the best return on investment for taxpayers.”

Democratic Delegate Larry Rowe, of Kanawha County, is a member of the House Finance Committee. He says he feels the request from the Commerce Department is a reasonable goal to achieve.

“We’re spending $10 million, and little of that is going to programming, most is going to personnel and expenses, so what I’d like to see us do is define very clearly what that extra money would be for and where it’s going to be spent,” Rowe said.

During the presentation, Cabinet Secretary Thrasher mentioned that by the end of the summer, he and his team hope to rebrand the state by having the Department of Tourism join the Department of Commerce. He also noted how getting the state’s Community Colleges involved more heavily in training the workforce will also be key in getting more industry in the state.