Tourism: Legislature should leave budget intact
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West Virginia state senators have devised a budget for the coming year, despite having full knowledge of the unpredictability of state revenue collections -- and the shell game that goes into the reporting of those figures.
Give them credit for both their hard work and their willingness to make tough decisions in developing a general revenue fund spending plan that has bipartisan support. The $4.558 billion budget was approved over the weekend by a vote of 28-1, with several senators not present for the vote.
Though the general revenue budget is only about one-third of state spending, it is the plan where legislators and governors have the most discretion. Most other budgets involve federal funding or other factors that lock state officials in on how the money must be spent.
State senators managed to eliminate $27 million from the budget proposal made by Gov. Jim Justice. Kudos to them for that, and for their willingness to reconsider a Justice proposal regarding the Medicaid Intellectual and Developmentally Disabled waiver program. It allows more people to receive treatment and other services in their communities, often in their homes, instead of in institutions.
Justice had proposed adding $20 million to the waiver program, to reduce a lengthy waiting list of people desiring to make use of it. Initially, senators had cut that to $10 million, but they later restored the full amount sought by the governor.
Budget considerations are on the Legislature's plate much of this week. The House of Delegates must act on its version of the budget. Then, the two chambers will have to agree on a final version.
Among ways state senators are planning to balance the budget is to trim $4 million in suggested funding for the Division of Tourism.
Lawmakers ought to take another look at that, for the simple reason that promoting our state as a tourist destination boosts the economy and thus, state revenues.
Tourism is a money-maker, if the agency's funding is used properly; and reducing the agency's budget may be counterproductive in the long run.