CHARLESTON, W.Va. — There’s two months left in the fiscal year and there’s still no state budget in place for the new budget year that begins July 1.
Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin and members of his cabinet are in continued discussions with leading lawmakers on a new spending plan but there’s no agreement. They are trying to find some common ground in filling a $270 million revenue hole.
Tomblin administration Communications Director Chris Stadelman said Friday on MetroNews “Talkline” the give and take associated with compromise has been hard to find.
“Gov. Tomblin’s legacy throughout his career is forging compromise. The governor likes to do that, that’s the way he’s always worked and continues to be willing to do that, but that has to be a two-way street,” Stadelman said.
Tomblin is now proposing increases in both the sales and cigarette taxes to help meet the $270 million shortfall but tax increases are generally getting push back in the House of Delegates where as much as $100 million in further budget cuts are being discussed.
“Are we completely opposed to additional cuts? No. Do we believe that those cuts are going to have significant consequences and should be as minimal as possible? Yes.” Stadelman said. “We’re at a point where some additional revenues are necessary to create a stable budget going forward. He (Gov. Tomblin) continues to believe that and makes that case to legislators in frequent meetings.”
New revenue from tax increases would help stop the uncertainty that’s beginning to build, Stadelman said.
“Not just for (budget year) ’17 but for long-term stability to stop the uncertainty that businesses, residents and students face every year,” he said.
Tomblin’s proposed state budget presented to legislators in January cut $94 million after budget cuts the three previous years totaled more than $300 million, Stadelman said.