CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin likely will call a special session to take up the 2016-17 state budget later this month, whether there’s agreement in the Legislature on a budget plan or not, Revenue Secretary Bob Kiss said Wednesday.
“We’re probably talking about doing that sometime in May because of the critical nature of getting something in place,” Kiss said of the timing for a special session.
As of Wednesday — the 53rd day of the state budget impasse — Kiss said legislative leaders have not reached any agreement on a plan to close the current-year budget shortfall and a projected $270 million gap in the 2016-17 budget.
However, he said the governor cannot wait indefinitely, with the prospect of a shutdown of state government beginning on July 1…