West Virginia’s Governor, Jim Justice, recently put his signature on a budget just shy of $5 billion. This action came after he expressed disappointment with the state’s lawmakers. They had passed the budget in the final moments of their 60-day session, allocating less than what was deemed necessary for several critical programs.
Governor Justice voiced particular concern over the insufficient funds allocated to the Department of Human Services. He announced plans to possibly reconvene the lawmakers in a special session next month. His goal is to adjust the budget before the fiscal year concludes in June.
“Why in the world did we do this?” Justice, a member of the Republican Party, questioned during a media briefing.
In January, Justice had proposed a general revenue budget of $5.265 billion. He pointed out that the cuts made to Human Services would result in the loss of matching federal funds. According to him, these legislative cuts could negatively impact some of West Virginia’s most vulnerable groups, such as foster children and disabled individuals.
“I am here to tell you, when we call them back, this will be front and center,” he stated. “It’s going to take time to figure this out. Please tell me why we didn’t take the time to listen to the people who are the real experts. The real experts are the people that have been in our revenue department.”
Additionally, Justice urged the GOP-dominated Legislature to revisit other proposals he made in January that were overlooked. These include a tax break for families with children in daycare and a reduction in property tax for low-income senior citizens.
The legislative session was notable for its budget disagreements and the advancement of controversial social issues. However, these issues ultimately did not progress. The session concluded on Saturday, with lawmakers meeting privately to finalize the budget.
Governor Justice also expressed his disapproval of specific funding allocations to certain colleges and universities, which he felt unfairly excluded others. He specifically mentioned vetoing a $300,000 allocation for a facility in Cabell County. This facility offers job opportunities and training for the developmentally disabled. According to Justice, the Department of Human Services believes the funds could be better utilized elsewhere.
The budget process faced turmoil last week when it was revealed that Justice’s office was negotiating with the federal government. The discussions were about a potential $465 million COVID-19 funding clawback.