Lawmakers back budget cuts

PARKERSBURG - Gov. Joe Manchin's decision to order midyear budget cuts for all state agencies met with positive reaction Tuesday from local legislators.

On Monday, Manchin called for budget cuts in all branches of state government to avoid a possible budget deficit as high as $120 million as tax revenues have declined.

All executive branch agencies were ordered to cut spending by 3.4 percent. Manchin said the Legislature and Supreme Court have agreed to budget cuts, but no amount has been specified.

Legislators will be in session from Jan. 13 to March 13 and by Jan. 20 department heads are to submit their proposed cuts.

Sen. Donna Boley, R-Pleasants, a member of the Senate Finance Committee, said she expected five percent cuts.

"I think the governor is getting a hold of it now," Boley said. "It looked like $100 million at first. The department heads will look at it; five percent should be easy to do."

Boley said Manchin is wise in ordering the cuts instead of waiting until spring.

"I think this is called for and I'm surprised he did not do this earlier," she said.

One solution could be in resolving the state motor pool controversy, she said.

"The governor has a task force on the motor pool," Boley said. "Bob Ferguson, secretary of finance and administration, is to look at the system in use in Virginia. Between the governor and Ferguson, they will come up with some good ideas for cutbacks."

Sen. Frank Deem, R-Wood, said he gives Manchin credit for what he has done, agreeing he is taking the proper steps.

"He is the man responsible for what happens to finances as the so-called CEO," he said. "That's his responsibility to make sure the state is living within the budget."

Deem said it's not easy to cut back but respects the governor for doing what he thinks is necessary.

"Hindsight is always best, it's easy to look back and say what should have been done," Deem said. "I think he might have wanted to wait until he was certain he needed to do this."

Sen. Karen Facemyer, R-Jackson, said the governor made the right call.

"We will have a budget deficit and in the next two to three years there will be holes we can't fill," she said. "Make cuts now, cut waste. Many times when cuts are ordered it is money sitting there, positions not filled or projects not started since more funding is needed.

"I think it's a good step."

Facemyer, a member of the Senate Finance Committee and a budget conferee at the end of the session, said legislators will have more information next month.

"Last year the Legislature cut a lot," she said. "We need to cut state government; we have to look at cutting there first."

Facemyer said the governor is in the right in regard to the transportation problem. She said the state should consider doing like private business - have employees use their own cars and reimburse them for mileage.

"It's a lifestyle for some to have a state car and it is not necessary," she said.

Delegate Dan Poling, D-Wood, said the order was needed.

"We won't know for sure until we get down there and have the numbers," he said. "Gov. Manchin has been good about saying what we can work with and not waste. West Virginia is one of a few states with a balanced budget to still have services."

Poling said the Legislature needs to look at all things, not one or two areas.

"I know House Speaker Earl Ray Tomblin is open-minded to looking at what is cost effective," he said. "We need to look at where the money is needed most, everyday things for people to go to work. I don't want to look at one thing."

Delegate Larry Border, R-Wood, said he wants time to run the numbers but thinks the cuts were inevitable.

"Every year we look at unfilled vacancies when setting the budget," he said. "I think eliminating them in nonessential places would be the most logical place. I've seen times with larger cuts than this; it is not that painful at this point."

Border also supports changes in the motor pool.

"It's possible we could eliminate a lot there; most states don't allow individuals to use vehicles for personal use," he said. "One comment I've heard is you can go to a WVU game and look and see state cars in the parking lot. I doubt all of them are on official business. I have a feeling some personal use is mixed in there."

Delegate Mitch Carmichael, R-Jackson, a member of the House Finance Committee, said the poor condition of the economy required the budget cut.

"I think it's ironic that three months ago he was preparing to give a $35 million bonus to public employees and then he wants to cut spending by cutting $100 million," Carmichael said. "I think he should have looked at this before and there should have been an effort to reduce and make the government smaller."