CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) _ To the tune of nearly $1.9 million, West Virginia has already dipped into a fund created by lawmakers just two months ago to offset highway revenue losses.
The Legislature set up the $20 million special account when it voted to freeze a scheduled increase of the state's gas tax. But that increase wasn't scheduled to take effect until January. In the meantime, the account is offsetting shortfalls in monthly fuel tax revenues blamed on reduced consumption. That in turn has likely been caused by recent high gas prices.
Senate Finance Chairman Walt Helmick said the account is working as intended. The Pocahontas County Democrat said the state should consider the fund separate from the gas tax relief passed in June.
Lawmakers discussed the funding during Sunday interim meetings.
