State Budget Deficit Projected to Grow

West Virginia’s budget gap has topped $60 million as low energy prices continue to dampen tax collections. The West Virginia Department of Revenue says September’s tax collections missed estimates by $55.5 million. That pushed the deficit for the fiscal year’s first three months from $12 million at the end of August to $67.8 million. The deficit is projected to grow to $250 million by the end of the fiscal year. Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin told most state agencies this week to cut spending by 4 percent to help close the gap.