CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Gov. Jim Justice signed the state Legislature’s budget Thursday with changes; the governor vetoed four line items.
Justice’s signature on House Bill 2020 came six days after lawmakers from both chambers approved the more than $4.6 billion general revenue budget.
Justice, in a letter to Secretary of State Mac Warner, explained his four changes; the main alteration involves reducing teachers’ retirement savings from almost $43 million to $36.8 million. Justice said the funding is more than what is necessary as certified by the Consolidated Public Retirement Board.
The governor also signed 10 other appropriations bills affecting the following funds and agencies:
— The Civil Contingent Fund.
— Department of Education and its Vocational Division.
— Division of Health and Division of Human Services.
— Division of Finance.
— Office of Technology (from the Excess Lottery Revenue Fund.)
— Multiple divisions of the Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety.
— Education Broadcasting Authority (from Lottery Net Profits.)
— PEIA Rain Day Fee.
— Division of Corrections.
— The Department of Commerce’s Development Office.
Justice vetoed a supplemental appropriation for the Division of Human Services in the Department of Health and Human Resources.
Revenue Secretary Dave Hardy will speak about the governor’s decisions Friday in a press conference at the state Capitol.