West Virginia Department of Revenue Story Archives - Page 2 of 2

Report Says State Revenues $115M Short of Projections

The West Virginia Department of Revenue says state finances continue to lag.

As of Nov. 30, the state had collected about $115 million less than expected. The cumulative total of $1.52 billion also is about $83 million less than the state had collected at the same time a year.

For the month of November alone, General Revenue Fund collections were $290 million — nearly $23 million below projections, and 1.6 percent below prior year receives.

Revenue Cabinet Secretary Robert S. Kiss says the state continues to see a big decline in severance tax collections, as well as a lack of growth in personal income tax and sales tax revenue.

Marion County Freezes New Hires to Prepare for Cuts

Marion County’s commissioners have frozen new hires in response to the state’s budget problems.

The Tims West Virginian reports that the freeze approved on Wednesday was effective immediately.

Commissioner Ernie VanGilder says the county wants to be prepared if the state’s shortfall affects it.

As of Oct. 30, the West Virginia Department of Revenue says the state’s general revenue collections were more than $91 million behind estimates.

Commission president Randy Elliott says he’s concerned about state grant funding that county departments receive. He says the county and its departments would have to use internal funds if the grant funding isn’t available.

VanGilder and Elliott said the freeze won’t affect the Marion County 911 Center.

Elliott said commissioners haven’t discussed how long the freeze will be in effect.

State Revenue Miss Estimates for First Fiscal Month

West Virginia’s revenue collections missed estimates for the fiscal year’s first month.

Figures released Wednesday by the West Virginia Department of Revenue show General Revenue Fund collections for July were nearly $4.8 million below the estimate. Collections totaled $251.78 million.

Severance tax collections totaled about $11 million, which was $3.8 million below the estimate.

Revenue Secretary Robert Kiss says in a news release that the severance tax revenue decline was due to lower energy prices and recent cutbacks in coal production.

Personal income tax collections totaled more than $117 million, which was nearly $5 million below the estimate.

Consumer sales tax collections were about $4 million above the estimate, totaling about $84 million.