On Thursday evening April 17, following the vetoing of several line items, Gov. Patrick Morrisey signed into law a version of House Bill 2026, the state's budget for fiscal year 2026 which will begin July 1.  While several funding items across multiple areas were cut, the budget still included surplus funding directed to the State Road Fund for highway maintenance.  Where the House bill included a surplus transfer of $125 million, the final amount was reduced to $100 million through the Governor's veto process.  The Governor also approved a final figure of $675.2 million of spending authority for road maintenance through the State Road Fund, again reduced by $25 million.  The State Road Fund being a “non-appropriated special revenue account” means the WVDOH spends out the State Road Fund what the DMV collects from excise taxes, registration fees, sales taxes, federal highway trust fund reimbursements, etc., up to a maximum spending authority that the Legislature sets every year.  Therefore, the $675.2 million which was approved in the bill is what the WVDOH is allowed to spend to maintaining our infrastructure in fiscal year 2026.  Fortunately, the $100 million of surplus funding is separate from the $675.2 million spending authority, so the total spending authority for the WVDOH is $775 million for fiscal year 2026.  Overall great news for our highways as when compared to Governor Morrisey’s recommended budget from February this is a overall increase of roughly $200 million ($575 million to $775 million).  Below, are a few items that were changed related to Highways and associated with construction.

• Road maintenance through the State Road Fund: reduced by $25 million to a final figure of $675.2 million new funds.
• Division of Highways surplus fund: reduced by $25 million to a final figure of $100 million new funds.
• Economic Development Project Fund: eliminated new funding entirely, which would have totaled $75 million.
• Water Development Authority: eliminated new funding entirely, which would have totaled $10 million.
• To see the full list of line items which were vetoed by Gov. Morrisey, click here.