CHARLESTON, W.Va. — State lawmakers will return to Charleston in a week for a special session, Gov. Jim Justice said Thursday.
Justice said he’ll ask members of the state Senate and House of Delegates next Thursday, June 24, to approve $250 million in current budget revenue surplus funding for various projects.
“I am calling them back in to appropriate another $250 million in budget surplus money before the end of the fiscal year,” Justice said.
The fiscal year ends June 30. State law requires 50% of any budget surplus carried into the new fiscal year be put into the Rainy Day Fund. Justice said Thursday the fund is already at record levels.
“We’ve done great in our state. We have a tremendous surplus and we want to absolutely put that to good use,” Justice said.
Justice said the official agenda and a list of items would be released Friday.
Lawmakers met in a one day special session last week and approved $150 million in surplus funds for more than 400 highway projects in all 55 counties. Justice said Thursday lawmakers would have a “golden opportunity to do some more goodness” next week.
“So we’re going to call the folks back in and try and get their blessing and try to move forward on a lot of wonderful projects,” Justice said.