June ,


On June ,  days into the Extraordinary Session, named such because it is in addition to the Ordinary  Day
Session, the Governor sent out a press release stating that we would have a another bill to take up.
I also have included a supplemental bill to allow the Boone County Board of Education to continue to meet
payroll responsibilities while working toward a solution to address significant shortfalls caused by an
unprecedented drop in local property tax collections." stated Governor Tomblin.
On June nd, just hours before we completed budget # , which would later be vetoed, we were given a bill that
appeared to be a bailout of Boone County Schools. A bill that I and many of my fellow Delegates could not
support. We had heard about the layoffs and the closures and the troubles in Boone, but why should Boone be
given money when many Counties are hurting. It did not seem right so the bill was sent to Committee, the budget
finalized, and we went home.
It still bothered me that the Governor wanted to give money to Boone, so I wanted to investigate the rest of the
story. I spoke to the Sheriff's office, the State Board of Education, Boone County Superintendent Hudson and
Assistant Superintendent Huffman, the Boone County Commission, local teachers and even others in the
Putnam County School system. It was at that point I realized the bailout was a loan. A loan that would cover the
$$% of property taxes that were tied up in bankruptcy. A loan that would cover $ .M for the Local Share of the
School Aid formula. A loan that would only be paid back if the taxes were collected but it was money that was
absolutely needed. It was needed to pay salaries for teachers and service personnel that were wrapping up their
school year, which had elected to receive + checks instead of , which were worried sick about paying their
bills if the June , paycheck was delayed.
I spoke to a Boone Delegate and Senator and I knew I had to champion the cause. Delegate Nelson had to be
overseas, so he asked that I do all I could, and I did. I pulled together all of the notes that I had from the various
meeting into a data sheet along with the WV Code that covered this issue to distribute to the other $$
Legislators.
We were called back to Charleston on June , and I started talking to Delegates and Senators on Saturday and
Sunday but I knew I needed help. The Legislators wanted to be sure they were doing the right thing. I asked
Superintendent Hudson, and Ass't Superintendents Huffman and Beck to come to Charleston, and they were
there all day Monday and Tuesday. We met with almost every Delegate and a number of Senators. They were
grilled about operations, spending, the tax collections, and the future. On June nd, I knew the bill was dead, but
on June +, when it came to the entire House, I knew that we had put forth the facts and won people over. The
Senate passed it $ - on the $th, and the House passed it 3 -4 on the +th. The deadline was still getting the
money transferred by the th for the ,th payroll and would it get bogged down in the Governor's office. I am
happy to report that on June , , the Governor signed SB , and the hard working Boone County
teachers and service personnel can be assured that they will receive their checks as expected.