On Jan. 8th, 2003, West Virginia lawmakers were sworn-in to office, officially convening the state’s 76th Legislature.
Having been presented with the total FY 2004 Budget of $3.034 billion by the governor, lawmakers will be grappling with a $200 million to $250 million shortfall leaving little time to spare during the 60-day session. According to the State Constitution, West Virginia must balance its budget. While a tough job to accomplish, the management of state dollars has allowed West Virginia to be one of seven states to show a surplus last year. However, the national economy has resulted in growing budget shortfalls for almost every state and the Mountain State has not been immune.
Acting in an expeditious manner, areas which strain the state’s economy are being given immediate attention.
To date, lawmakers are pouncing on solutions to resolve issues surrounding medical malpractice insurance, workers’ compensation, restructuring of state government and higher education, to name a few.
Comparing the state’s budget to the budget crisis of the late 1980s and early 1990s, lawmakers have stressed the need to tighten spending with the zeal and commitment provided in those past years.
To remind their colleagues of the possibilities of resolving today’s fiscal situation, Legislative Leadership noted that in the past 10 years: $1.1 billion has been put toward water and sewer projects throughout the state; over a billion dollars was directed toward new school construction; West Virginia is 12th in the nation in the ratio of computers to students; 21,000 children who a decade ago did not have health insurance, do so now; and, the most expansive road and bridge construction projects have been made over those years if compared with a basis of current dollars calculated for inflation.
In their opening remarks to their respective chambers, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House encouraged all lawmakers to focus on the state’s immediate concerns in a cooperative and productive manner to ensure West Virginia can rebound from the state’s present fiscal situation. As such, during the next 52 days, lawmakers will be addressing the most pressing issues West Virginia has seen in a decade.
76th Legislature to Address Budget Crunch
