3:06pm: Hotline with Dave Weekley

House Minority Leader thinks RESA’s will survive 2017 Legislative Session

CHARLESTON, W.Va. —  House Minority Leader Tim Miley (D – Harrison, 48) is optimistic that Regional Education Service Agencies will survive the most recent call for elimination.

“I’ve been told that the RESA’s statewide cost about $3.5 or $3.7 million dollars to the state, but they in turn leverage about $50 million dollars in grants,” Miley said Monday on “The Gary Bowden Show” on the AJR News Network. “So they more than pay for themselves.”

Senate Bill 181, filed on February 8 by lone sponsor Charles S. Trump IV (R – Morgan, 15), calls for the elimination of all eight RESA’s in West Virginia.

With a $500 million expected budget shortfall next fiscal year, Miley said he understands why RESA’s are an easy target. He also said RESA’s serve a number of purposes, and cutting them should not be done with reckless abandon.

“If you want to talk about getting rid of the RESA’s, you can’t have the discussion without also having the discussion about: A, the value of the services performed and B, the loss of employment that would create,” Miley said.

Miley said RESA 7, located in his home county, employs 74 people full-time and employs more than 300 people part-time. He said that could create a difficult added workload for local school boards.

“There is a belief that that grant money can still be obtained if the responsibilities of the RESA’s are transferred to, say, local Boards of Education, collaborative agreements between multi-county Boards of Education, and the like,” Miley said.

At this point, Miley said he remains confident that RESA’s will survive the 2017 Regular Legislative Session.

“I don’t know that the RESA’s will be eliminated even though that there’s a push to do so,” he said. “We’ll know at the end of the session, but right now there is no bill moving that would eliminate the RESA’s that I could see.”

S.B. 181 was sent to the Senate Education Committee on February 8, but the Committee hasn’t yet heard the bill.





More News

News
Bridge collapse having an impact on West Virginia coal shipments
About third of the coal mined in northern West Virginia is shipped out of the presently idled Port of Baltimore
March 28, 2024 - 1:18 pm
News
Charleston animal shelter seeks more donations, fosters following U-Haul crash
The corner roof of the Kanawha-Charleston Humane Association building was stabilized Thursday morning.
March 28, 2024 - 12:41 pm
News
Controversial unemployment bill becomes law without governor's signature
The bill freezes employer contributions and freezes benefits for people who lose their jobs.
March 28, 2024 - 12:20 pm
News
Governor signs bill phasing out state taxes on Social Security and receives praise
The phase-out would mean a 35% cut retroactive to Jan. 1, 2024; 65% in 2025 and 100% in 2026.
March 28, 2024 - 11:46 am