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Senate approves FY2027 budget compromise, enacts 5% personal income tax cut and 3% state pay raise
Summary
The West Virginia Senate adopted a FY2027 budget compromise on March 4 that reduces the personal income tax by 5% and includes a 3% average pay raise for state employees; the amendment and final passage of Senate Bill 250 were approved on the floor and the bill was made effective immediately.
The West Virginia Senate on March 4 adopted a compromise budget for fiscal year 2027, approving language to reduce the personal income tax by 5% and to provide a 3% average pay raise for state employees. The clerk announced the House had amended and passed a committee substitute for Senate Bill 250; the Senate then adopted an amendment to the House amendment and passed the bill.
Junior senator from the sixteenth explained the compromise on the floor, saying, “The compromise appropriates $21,570,820,292 in estimated revenue collections and spending authority.” He outlined major allocations including roughly $5.5 billion in estimated general revenue spending, $2.1 billion in road fund authority, $2.7 billion in special revenue, and nearly $9.7 billion in federal revenue spending authority. The senator also said the budget provides an increase of almost $40,000,000 for adoption and foster care services, restores certain higher education funding levels and funding for arts and culture, and includes a series of targeted economic and workforce development investments.
The compromise was described on the floor as providing funding for the HOPE scholarship at $297,000,000, additional investments for workforce and university collaborations, and specific surplus appropriations that the sponsor said would fund upcoming school-year payments for the HOPE scholarship. Medicaid funding was noted as increased compared with the prior year, with several specific line items described as funded through supplemental and carryover sources.
Following floor debate, the Senate voted by machine on the question of passage. The clerk reported an initial machine tally of 30 ayes, 3 nays and 1 absent; the presiding officer declared the bill passed. A subsequent tally on making the bill effective from passage showed 33 yays, 0 nays and 1 absent, and the presiding officer declared the bill effective upon passage. The clerk was directed to communicate the action to the House.
Votes at a glance: - Senate Bill 250 (FY2027 budget): Amendment to the House amendment adopted; passage declared. Reported machine tallies included 30–3–1 (ayes–nays–absent) on passage and 33–0–1 to make the bill effective from passage.
What this means: The compromise budget’s major line items and the tax reduction and pay raises take effect as specified in the enacted bill; the Senate’s action completes its chamber’s approval and the clerk will notify the House of the Senate’s action. Further implementing details, effective dates, and any follow-up reporting requirements are set by the enacted text of SB250.
The Senate also handled numerous committee referrals and other business during the session; the chamber adjourned at the close of the day until 11:00 a.m. the following day.
