Surplus Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Justice Proposes $50 Million Budget For Affordable Housing

Announced Thursday, Justice’s proposal would provide $50 million of state surplus funds for the construction of single and multi-unit houses across West Virginia.

A budget proposal from Gov. Jim Justice aims to ensure that workers and their families can find affordable housing.

Announced Thursday, Justice’s proposal would provide $50 million of state surplus funds for the construction of single and multi-unit houses across West Virginia.

“We’re constantly wanting people to come to West Virginia,” Justice said.

By expanding affordable housing options, Justice hopes to make moving to the state easier. “We need to devote ourselves to trying to stimulate and bring more and more and more folks,” he said.

Rising rental costs and persistent economic depression has placed stress on housing markets across West Virginia. In recent years, millions of dollars in federal funding has aimed to improve the state’s affordable housing options.

Erica Boggess, executive director of the West Virginia Housing Development Fund, said Thursday that the added funding would mark an important step toward bolstering housing accessibility in the state.

“We’re very pleased and excited that the governor has proposed this funding to help with this important initiative,” she said.

With additional funding from the state, housing officials are hopeful for more accessible options ahead. “Housing is truly a component of economic development, and it’s the foundation that makes our communities thrive,” Boggess said.

$50 million In State Surplus Awarded to WVU Cancer Institute

Alongside health officials from West Virginia University, Gov. Jim Justice announced Thursday that $50 million of the state’s surplus funding will support investment to attain National Cancer Institute designation for the WVU Cancer Institute.

“I am thrilled to deliver this $50 million check to the West Virginia University Cancer Institute in their pursuit of an official cancer center designation by the National Cancer Institute,”. Justice said. “I want to express my deep gratitude to the West Virginia Legislature for allocating these crucial funds, and to WVU Medicine for pursuing this incredible goal, because we all recognize the importance and significance of obtaining this recognition from the NCI, as it is only bestowed upon the nation’s top cancer centers. This funding will serve as a catalyst to jumpstart our progress towards that goal, and I couldn’t be more proud.”

The funding was included in House Bill 2024 as part of the Fiscal Year 2024 budget passed by the West Virginia Legislature.

According to a press release, the money will be used for comprehensive research programs, faculty and facilities that will directly lead to innovative approaches in cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

“Our goal is to place the WVU Cancer Institute in the top 2 percent of cancer centers nationwide, which will improve the health and wellness of the people in our state, particularly in southern West Virginia, by reducing cancer occurrence rates and increasing cancer survival,” WVU President Gordon Gee said.

The National Cancer Institute leads cancer research across the country and recognizes cancer centers with an official NCI designation, the highest federal rating a cancer center can achieve.

Justice made the announcement at WVU Medicine Princeton Community Hospital with Gee, WVU Health System President and Chief Executive Officer Albert L. Wright, Jr., WVU Health Sciences Chancellor and Executive Dean Dr. Clay Marsh and WVU Cancer Institute Director Dr. Hannah Hazard-Jenkins.

Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting with support from Charleston Area Medical Center and Marshall Health.

W.Va. Medicaid and Rainy Day Fund Gets Boost from Revenue Surplus

Nearly $37 million in general revenue surplus money will be given to West Virginia’s Medicaid program as well as the state’s Rainy Day emergency reserve fund.

Gov. Jim Justice made the announcement in a press release this week. The nearly $37 million will be divided in half – about $18 million for Medicaid and the other $18 million will go to the Rainy Day Fund.

Justice said this past year West Virginia has brought in “hundreds of millions of dollars more than we ever dreamed of,” and he said he’s proud to be using it to support and secure a “better future” for West Virginians.

The official surplus for Fiscal Year 2019 totaled $511 million above original budget estimates.

West Virginia Department of Revenue Secretary Dave Hardy said the accomplishment marks 2019 as the single greatest year of revenue growth in West Virginia’s history.