The House Finance Committee held budget hearings this morning.
The Department of Commerce presented its budget first. With changes made to add the Division of Economic Development to the department, the total FTEs are 2286, with 79 percent of positions filled. The agencies within the department include the Division of Economic Development, the Board of Coal Mine Health and Safety, the Division of Forestry, the Geological and Economic Survey, the Division of Labor, the Office of Miners’ Health, Safety, and Training, the Division of Natural Resources, the Division of Rehabilitative Services, and WorkForce West Virginia.
The Department’s FY26 general revenue budget was $83,673,866, and the FY27 general revenue budget request is $91,027,953, which is an increase of $7,354,087. The Department also receives federal funding and special revenue.
To save costs, the Department has implemented shared services for legal, accounting, and human resources for the cabinet secretary and the Division of Economic Development. The Division of Forestry has closed a few field offices, is sharing services for accounting and human resources, is utilizing federal grants when possible, and is looking to reduce leased office space. The Division of Natural Resources has reduced advertising, restructured leadership, and reformed commission meetings to save state dollars. The Division of Rehabilitative Services reduced office space leasing and training costs. WorkForce West Virginia has reduced travel, combined units, paused the education reimbursement program, and offered reduced work weeks to employees. Several agencies have eliminated or reduced temporary positions and OT audits.
The Economic Development Division is working with vo-tech and higher education to help prepare students for the industries in the state.
The presentation by the West Virginia Economic Development Authority will be rescheduled for another day.
