By George Melik
For WV Freedom Caucus
The West Virginia Freedom Caucus today called on legislative leadership to halt the wave of supplemental appropriations—commonly referred to as the “back of the budget”—and instead return surplus tax dollars directly to the hardworking citizens who paid them.
“Give the taxpayers back their money!” WV Freedom Caucus Chairman S. Chris Anders stated.
Each year, after the main state budget is passed, Leadership and the establishment quietly make additional spending bills appear near the end of the legislative session. These supplemental appropriations pull money from the state’s surplus and direct it toward various government programs and funds.
“While each bill may appear small individually, together they represent hundreds of millions of dollars in additional spending,” Anders pointed out.
If the current surplus being discussed in Charleston were returned directly to taxpayers, it would amount to approximately $400 back to every West Virginia taxpayer.
“The state should prioritize relief for families instead of expanding government spending. They use supplementals and the ‘back of the budget’ to try and make the budget look smaller than what the government actually spends,” Anders stressed.
“If the state has collected hundreds of millions more than it needs to operate, that money belongs to the people who earned it. Instead of rushing through ‘back of the budget’ spending bills at the end of session, we should return that surplus to the taxpayers. For many families, $400 could help cover the rising costs of electric bills, groceries, or fuel. The responsible thing to do is give the money back,” Anders explained.
“Mountaineer families are already struggling with what many economists call the ‘inflation tax’ – the rising cost of everyday necessities caused in part by excessive government spending,” Anders continued. “This supplemental spending spree just adds to inflation.”
“The state would provide real relief to families facing rising costs when it returns surplus funds,” said Delegate Laura Kimble.
“Families across West Virginia are managing their households as inflation drives up the cost of groceries, utilities, and everyday necessities. When government collects more than it needs, the answer should not be to spend more. The answer should instead be to return that money to the taxpayers who worked hard to earn it,” Kimble emphasized.
Members of the Freedom Caucus pointed out that the current system of passing supplemental appropriations late in the legislative session often shields large spending decisions from meaningful debate.
“The state must begin prioritizing fiscal restraint,” said WV Freedom Caucus Secretary Henry Dillon.
“Charleston should not treat surplus funds as a slush fund for last-minute spending. If government collects more than it expected, those additional funds should be applied to critical infrastructure, such as water and roads, or returned to taxpayers,” Dillon added.
“West Virginians deserve a government that respects their hard-earned money and lives within its means,” Dillon emphasized.
The West Virginia Freedom Caucus urges lawmakers in both chambers to reject unnecessary supplemental appropriations and support returning surplus funds to the taxpayers of West Virginia.
For more information about WV Freedom Caucus, visit https://x.com/FreedomCaucusWV or https://www.youtube.com/@WVFreedomCaucus or Contact [email protected]
