MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Discussions over the state’s $1.8 billion budget surplus to end the fiscal year have now led state officials to ponder what should be done with the remaining $451 million in funding and how much can be spent.
For Monongalia County Delegate John Williams, the announcement by Governor Jim Justice has led to both celebration and concern over what the actual numbers should be. This is based on the approach to the budget that other officials have called a combination of cost savings and lower estimates, which for Williams has led to some issues for legislatures that could have long-term effects.
“To the extent that these estimates are being made, the estimates are just so consistently flat, it’s not taking as much account into inflation in there as it should be,” said Williams on the budget surplus and how it’s calculated. “Really, if you’re looking at this and adjusting the problem, you could be a little more accurate,” he said.
The biggest example for Williams of how the estimates of the budget, the actual results, and how they translate to government spending are determined is through legislative sessions. With state programs and services that have received cuts or have had to scale back due to low budget estimates, the surplus leaves a giant question mark on how much flexibility legislatures have when appropriations are discussed. In the most recent session, Williams points out highly debated topics such as funding for the state Public Employees Insurance Agency as an area that could’ve been solved without greatly affecting the remaining $451 million surplus.
“We’re all celebrating that we’ve got this fantastic surplus; meanwhile, we just raised PEIA premiums, which could’ve used a $50 million band-aid on this $451 million,” said Williams.
Even though the timing is not ideal, Williams does feel avenues should be explored to see what can be addressed with the $451 million that remains unappropriated from the state surplus. On WAJR’s Talk of the Town, he mentioned statewide needs that not only include PEIA support but also support for education and emergency services. He also added that longstanding issues regarding state prisons should be considered for appropriation.
“We need to pump some money into the Department of Corrections to be able to give them a pay raise,” Williams said. “We need to address the EMS problem, and as I’ve already said with WVU, with their budget shortfall, I don’t think enough attention is being paid to it,” he said.
The remaining $451 million in the $1.8 billion surplus is expected to have several different views on how it should be spent. Even in a super-Republican majority state, both state senators and members of the House of Delegates have mentioned possibilities to address roads, state health and human resources, and continued tax relief as possibilities heading into the 2024 legislative session. While the session itself is still several months away from its winter start, Williams hopes time will be used by lawmakers to determine the best use of the unapropriated funds.
“There are uses for this money, and so to always celebrate these massive surpluses when there are other needs that need to be addressed, it’s great; we got the money; now let’s do something with it to help the people of West Virginia,” he said.