Problems Facing West Virginia: Budget Crises and Economic Development

The two major problems facing W.V. today are budget crises and economic development. These are political problems that come from many different sources and are hard for politicians to correct using only political means.

Budget crises may start at the national government level by states not getting enough funds from the government and therefore not having enough money for its many divisions. Many times, a state will continue to develop a "maxed out" budget plan that does not allow any room for surprise costs. W.V. is no exception. Often West Virginia's budget shows huge amounts of debt (currently $6 billion) and there is not any surefire way of improving it.

The answer to a budget crisis seems to be tax increases, but because of West Virginia's poverty rate and unemployment rate, this just doesn't seem possible. Voters elect representatives who say they will lower taxes but at the same time complain that their children's schoolbooks are 10 years old. It seems most times, a vicious circle.

Economic development is another problem facing West Virginia's government and it ties in with budget crises. Problems with West Virginia's economic development are its poor infrastructure, low education levels, less job force (younger people leaving with older people retiring), and outsourcing jobs to list a few.

The poor infrastructure (lack of large airports, etc.) is partly to blame on the lack of port cities and ports in W.V. and partly on the lack of money to maintain roadways in our sometimes harsh winters and floods.

West Virginia's low education levels contribute to its low economic development. If W.V. had more skilled people in the workforce then more companies would be interested in relocating here and less outsourcing would occur-meaning more tax revenue for the state and fewer young people leaving to get jobs in other states.

Solutions to these economic development problems and help for the budget crises would be spending more of our small state budget on education. Contributing more to 2 year and trade schools would keep more of West Virginia's young workforce in the state. Increasing educational standards while W.V. students are in elementary and middle schools will help them become better prepared to contribute to their state through becoming a "brain force" that doesn't need out-of-state help.

Strategically increasing taxes would help the state budget and give more money to education funds and infrastructure projects and take the pressure off the need for outsourcing funds-helping everyone out. Educating the public on the way the state's budget works through commercials, newspapers, etc. and school programs are necessary for the future. If W.V. citizens see that the need for tax increases is dire to their future and their children's and that it would help the state they grew up in keep its beauty...the money would slowly start coming in.

A movement for a better future for W.V. has to start with the young people. They have to be educated on policies, budgets, taxes and economics. They then have to teach their parents, so that they will not resist tax increases. If the governor and the legislature can just get through to the next generation, W.V. might be able to remain at its current beauty (less outsourcing, timbering, mining, etc.) and become an economically developed place where people want to live.