Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin's administration is considering mid-year
budget cuts to offset a decline in state revenues.
A state report released shows tax
collections are about $57.4 million below estimates for the fiscal year that
began July 1.
Tomblin Chief of Staff Charlie Lorensen
says the state could impose cuts or a hiring freeze to balance the budget.
Lorensen says another option is to use
funds in accounts set up by the Legislature. But the Governor's Office would
need legislative approval to do so.
The report shows November tax
collections were $14.9 million below estimates. Deputy revenue secretary Mark
Muchow says coal and gas severance taxes accounted for most of the shortfall.
He expects severance taxes to rebound in December.
