CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The House Finance Committee proposes a budget that includes the full amount Gov. Jim Justice says will wipe out the wait list for intellectual and developmental disabilities waivers.
The House’s proposal also includes an additional $17 million to support West Virginia’s many foster care families.
“The priority for us has been funding for the foster care crisis and the IDD waiver,” said Delegate Daryl Cowles, R-Morgan.
The House Finance Committee passed its budget proposal on Thursday afternoon. Over the next week, the House, the Senate and the governor’s staff will be working to agree.
When the Senate Finance Committee passed its own budget on Wednesday afternoon, it cut in half the additional money that Justice had proposed for IDD waivers.
Delegate Erikka Storch, R-Ohio, said the reaction was loud and clear.
“I heard people from all over the state wanting us to fund the IDD waiver since it was cut from the Senate’s budget,” Storch said.
Justice wanted almost $20 million extra for that program, and the Senate budget had only $10 million extra.
By midday Thursday, Justice issued a statement saying that is unacceptable. He wants to wipe out a longstanding wait list for the program that helps people with disabilities receive care at home.
House Finance members wanted to be sure the budget they are proposing includes the full amount.
“Our proposed budget would fully fund the governor’s request in the amount of $19.8 million?” asked Delegate Paul Espinosa, R-Jefferson, just clarifying.
The House proposal also includes $17 million meant to increase the per diems received by West Virginia’s thousands of foster families and kinship families.
That initiative has been a House priority but was not included in the governor’s initial proposal and was not reflected so far in the Senate budget.
The @wvhouse Finance Committee has begun consideration of its version of the FY2021 budget bill (HB4021). #wvlegis
A copy of the proposed budget presentation, as presented to the committee, can be viewed/downloaded here: https://t.co/zYwMfEc9EW
— Jared Hunt (@jaredwv) February 27, 2020
Justice, at the start of the legislative session, proposed a General Revenue budget of $4.585 billion.
The House of Delegates proposes dropping that to $4.579 billion.
The House makes some notable cuts, including to a second proposed location for the Mountaineer Challenge Academy. That funding is moved to General Revenue surplus, which means it could be funded if there is any extra money later on.
And millions are cut from Jobs & Hope, formerly known as “Jim’s Dream,” the governor’s program that blends workforce training with drug rehabilitation. That, too, moves to surplus and could receive money if there is any left over.
The House proposal also cuts $1.8 million from West Virginia funding for the MARC train that provides commuter access for Eastern Panhandle residents to Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C.
This proposal still leaves $1 million in funding for that service.
Delegate Jason Barrett, D-Berkeley, proposed an amendment to restore that funding but it was defeated 10-15.
“It’s an economic driver, there’s no question,” Barrett said.
Delegate Isaac Sponaugle, D-Pendleton, asked if the budget in any way reflects additional funding to prepare for a possible outbreak of the coronavirus.
He wanted to know if the governor has asked for any additional funding for local health departments or for homeland security.
“Has he made any requests related to this budget?” Sponaugle asked. “I would think our local public health departments are going to need resources.”
The answer was no, so far.