WV Budget

So far it is just a deal on paper, but West Virginia finally has a balanced budget. The House Finance committee approved a spending plan that eliminates almost $400 million in red ink, mostly with 4-percent across the board budget cuts; and defunding a number of special accounts. Plans to reduce the coal severance tax have been dropped; and the House would borrow $30 million from the state’s “rainy day fund.” The Senate has cut out a proposal to let voters in each county, decide on whether or not to increase the sales tax to build and repair local roads.