By PHIL KABLER
Charleston Gazette-Mail
(Gazette-Mail photo by Chris Dorst)
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Gov. Jim Justice’s proposal to significantly increase state funding for economic development and tourism is getting a warm reception in the West Virginia Legislature — a year after lawmakers slammed the door on nearly identical spending increases in the 2017 regular session.
“A year ago, we were in a $500 million budget crisis. There’s more of an appetite to consider these things this year,” Senate President Mitch Carmichael, R-Jackson, said of the change of attitude.
That would break a four-year stretch of budget shortfalls, mid-year spending cuts and, for the past two years, extended budget impasses.
Opening the 2018 regular session Wednesday evening, Justice proposed two big-ticket spending items, increasing funding for the state Development Office from $10 million to $45 million and increasing the Division of Tourism budget from about $6 million to $20 million.
Read the entire article: https://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/legislative_session/wv-legislature-gives-justice-s-funding-proposals-warm-reception/article_3a74a6ac-7c22-5564-ba85-f0b98c031c0e.html
See more from the Charleston Gazette-Mail
