West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy

"The fact that this is coming out now after lawmakers already enacted additional income tax cuts & expanded programs under the understanding that they didn’t need additional funds for child care or other TANF-funded programs, the timing is a little bit concerning.” - @kellakelWV

"Kelly Allen, executive director of the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy, said lawmakers had asked administration officials during the session whether additional child care funding was needed."

"No specific cuts have been announced, but childcare providers warn that reductions to child care assistance programs could force centers to raise rates or close altogether." wchstv.com/news/local/wes…

This thread from over a year ago highlights our longstanding concern around lawmakers needing to use TANF reserve to fund child care so they could keep the state budget 'flat'

About half of states are projected to face SNAP cost-sharing penalties of $100+ million a year, based on the most recent official data. That's already driving some states to take drastic steps to cut costs that are making it much harder for eligible families to access SNAP.

When schools close, students lose access to support systems and face longer bus rides, communities lose gathering spaces, and the local economy is harmed. Check out this school closure tool:wvschoolconsolidations.shinyapps.io/westvirginiasc…

New CMS rules changes are expected to reduce marketplace enrollment by up to 2 million people in 2027 alone, exposing people to very high out-of-pocket health care costs while doing little to improve the affordability or value of coverage. cbpp.org/research/feder…

WV has a similar sales tax exemption and gives data centers a heavily discounted rate on property taxes for that same equipment. All of it undermines school funding and local public services. wvpolicy.org/data-center-ta…

SPI has a proven track record of preparing emerging leaders to engage in meaningful policy work—from developing proposals alongside community members to building lasting networks with advocates and decision-makers. Donate to support a camper here: tinyurl.com/43n8yy6y

Thanks to strong interest and the program’s commitment to accessibility, we are seeking campership support to ensure that every accepted participant can attend at no cost.

The 2026 Summer Policy Institute is just one month away! We are thrilled to have received more than 60 applications from people across West Virginia eager to build their skills, deepen their understanding of policy, and shape a brighter future for their communities!

Learn more in our blog post: tinyurl.com/y4972btk or in this recent article featuring our data: tinyurl.com/msajvxn4

A common myth of school vouchers is that they do not harm public schools. The reality is that these vouchers, including the Hope Scholarship, reduce the amount of money available to fund public schools in an already underfunded system, leading to layoffs, program cuts & closures.

A follow up to my investigation into West Virginia’s child abuse referral system after a child died: The state is now piloting a new system — it puts more work on CPS workers, who already have high caseloads and staff shortages westvirginiawatch.com/2026/05/20/whi…

These revenue losses are not abstract. They are dollars that could better resource our classrooms, stop school closures, and make critical investments in our children’s futures.

The time is now for communities, school districts, and local governments to demand that if data centers are going to locate in our communities, they must pay their fair share.

With members of the House of Delegates in Charleston this week to discuss data centers, it is important to remember that the tax breaks that data centers receive come directly at the cost of public schools across the state. wvpolicy.org/data-center-ta…