The West Virginia Department of Agriculture and West Virginia State Conservation Agency updated the Senate Finance Committee on their 2020 fiscal budgets 3 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 16.
The two agencies provided a review of their expenditures from the past year while also presenting the committee with an updated version of their current budget proposals.
Brian Farkas, Executive Director of the West Virginia State Conservation Agency requested a total of $10,023,235.00 for the 2020 fiscal year. Farkas said that $8,799,709.00 of the proposal is intended to go towards conservation projects which would likely include: spending on the Agricultural Enhancement Program, emergency watershed and stream resolutions program and flood-control dam operations which includes dam maintenance.
Farkas addressed the committee and said that West Virginia’s 170 dams provide $90 million in annual flood protection despite 82 percent being 40 years old or older. According to Farkas, the majority of dams throughout the nation are 30 years or older. According to Farkas, dam repair and rehabilitation estimates for the state’s dams’ range between $100 and $300 million.
Farkas also discussed the state’s stream blockages which affects West Virginia’s 40,000 miles of streams throughout the state. He explained that due to a national increase in rainfall, the northeast part of the country, which features West Virginia, can anticipate an increase in stream blockages due to a rise in flooding.
Kent A. Leonhardt with the West Virginia Department of Agriculture updated the committee on the departments current budget request which features $1,000,000 for repairs to the Cedar Lakes facility, $50,000,000 to replace labs and $417,500 for the startup of a Hemp Program.
Leonhardt explained that the Hemp Program would be a one-time funding to help create a new laboratory in the state which would include lab equipment, maintence and lab consumables.
During his presentation, Leonhart explained that the state’s laboratories in Gutherie and Moorefield are listed some of the premiere laboratories in the country but due to a lack of space and funding, individuals from around the country are unable to visit the labs.
The committee also sent Senate Bills 180-183 to the full Senate following referral to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Senate Bill 183 is a State Tax Department rule relating to the administration of tax on purchases of wine and liquor inside and outside of municipalities.
Senate Bill 181 is a State Tax Department rule relating to aircraft operated under a fractional ownership program.
