Cuts, weak growth hem in W.Va. budget picture

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The budget cuts previously called for by the governor have helped balance the next budget proposal, and any resulting pain to agencies or programs won't include layoffs, the state's budget director said Thursday.

Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin has called for all state agencies to slash 7.5 percent, though large spenders including K-12 -- not higher education -- and corrections were spared. That amounts to $75 million in cuts to Tomblin's 2013-2014 proposal, Budget Director Mike McKown said. While that's less than 2 percent of West Virginia's general revenue spending, the cuts also help future budget-setting by permanently reducing basic state spending, he added.