March 3rd, 2017 by WCBC Radio

The last budget passed by the West Virginia Legislature created a $123 million deficit that needs to be closed by July 1, 2017. Today, the Governor announced that the continued analysis of West Virginia's finances by the Justice Administration identified that there is approximately $120 million available to help close this year's budget gap. Governor Justice proposes to use approximately  $60 million from special revenue accounts across state government and approximately $60 million in reappropriated funds- unspent money from the last five years. There is reappropriated money in the governor's office, the Legislature, the Offices of the Insurance Commissioner, and other agencies across state government. Following this development, the Governor suggests that the Legislature use as little money as possible from the state's Rainy Day fund to plug the FY2017 budget hole.