Furloughs Possible Under Governor’s Budget Plan

More on the current budget session…Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin has introduced a bill to allow furloughs during emergencies, including if there’s no budget agreement by July 1 and many state government functions are forced to shut down. The bill would avoid a scenario without a budget where all state employees would lose their jobs and have to be rehired later. Tomblin said he is also seeking the ability to pay debt services and extremely important positions, like at prisons and hospitals. The bill would let him furlough everyone else to avoid layoffs. The goal is to pass a budget before July 1, the start of the new fiscal year.