CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Another round of state budget cuts would force West Virginia agencies to lay off hundreds of employees, and force closure of state parks and recreational areas, college branch campuses, correctional facilities, State Police detachments and a state hospital.
That’s according to responses from state agencies to a request from House Finance Chairman Eric Nelson, R-Kanawha, to outline how they would absorb a hypothetical 6.5 percent additional cut in their 2016-17 budgets.
Nelson said Thursday that, depending on the agency, the cuts range from modest to draconian.
“In most cases, these cuts suggest the elimination of state personnel and other significant adverse impacts to agencies, programs and services rendered to the public,” he said.
Nelson said he considers the agency reports to be a starting point for discussions on any potential additional cuts in the 2016-17 state budget, as legislators look for ways to close a $460 million deficit in the new budget.
“There will be a lot of eyes on these for the next few days,” he said of the reports.
A sampling of potential cuts…