Another round of state budget cuts would force West Virginia agencies to lay off hundreds of employees, and force closure of state parks and recreational areas, college branch campuses, correctional facilities, State Police detachments and a state hospital.
That's according to responses from state agencies to a request from House Finance Chairman Eric Nelson, R-Kanawha, to outline how they would absorb a hypothetical 6.5 percent additional cut in their 2016-17 budgets.
Nelson said Thursday that, depending on the agency, the cuts range from modest to draconian.
"In most cases, these cuts suggest the elimination of state personnel and other significant adverse impacts to agencies, programs and services rendered to the public," he said.
Nelson said he considers the agency reports to be a starting point for discussions on any potential additional cuts in the 2016-17 state budget, as legislators look for ways to close a $460 million deficit in the new budget.
"There will be a lot of eyes on these for the next few days," he said of the reports.
A sampling of potential cuts:
n Layoffs of 166 full-time employees at five state hospitals, as well as the closure of certain areas of Welch Community Hospital.
Department of Health and Human Resources Secretary Karen Bowling said that would require "reducing the number of patients served in these facilities to ensure compliance with regulations and accreditation standards," resulting in possible relocation of patients and the potential to be out of compliance with staffing requirements under the Hartley decision.
Other layoffs, the DHHR said, would include 14 positions at the Bureau of Public Health and elimination of six substance-abuse recovery coaches.
n A $71.5 million cut in State Aid to Schools, which would push 14 county school systems into deficits and require a yet-to-be-determined reduction in staffs and operations.
n Elimination of 350 positions at four-year colleges and universities. Cuts in programs and services also would be necessary, along with funding reductions for Promise scholarships and higher education grants.
Also likely: new tuition and fees increases of up to 10 percent at most institutions.
"I am gravely concerned about the potential for such a deep cut, on top of the existing 4 percent reduction, for which we have prepared," Higher Education Policy Commission Chancellor Paul Hill said in his letter to the Finance Committee. "I am acutely concerned about our state's continued ability to provide access to an affordable postsecondary education for our citizens."
n Closure of branch campuses at four community colleges, including Blue Ridge CTC's Morgan County Center and the Northern Advanced Technology Center.
Additionally, high-tech programs in energy and power would be eliminated because of high costs, officials said.
Without specifying numbers of layoffs, CTC Chancellor Sarah Armstrong Tucker advised, "Program elimination comes hand-in-hand with layoffs and position eliminations. The reduction of force will not only contribute to an increase in the state's unemployment but will also result in critical duties, central to the mission of the colleges, going unfulfilled."
n Layoffs of 87 state troopers, along with five forensic analysts, two evidence technicians and three support staff from the State Police forensic laboratory. Additionally, State Police detachments in Hundred, Grafton, Berkeley Springs, Parsons, Grantsville, St. Mary's, Elizabeth and Quincy would be closed.
The State Police also would cancel cadet training classes indefinitely.
n Layoffs of 14 full-time and 26 seasonal Parks and Recreation employees in the Division of Natural Resources.
That would require closing - or operating unstaffed - the Greenbrier River Trail, North Bend Rail Trail, Prickett's Fort, Droop Mountain and Beartown, Cathedral, Cabwaylingo, and Tu-Endie-Wei state parks, as well as the Panther Wildlife Management Area.
n Closure of state Tax Department field offices in Huntington, Logan, Princeton, Morgantown, Wheeling, Beckley and Parkersburg, resulting in layoffs of 32 full-time employees.
n Closure of the McDowell County Correctional Center, Stevens Correctional Center and the Ronald C. Mulholland Juvenile Center, with "many layoffs" indicated, but without specific numbers.
n Layoffs and program cancellations for West Virginia Public Broadcasting, along with the likely shutting down of one or two broadcast translators that relay television signals to remote parts of the state.
n Attorney General Patrick Morrisey said he would have to reduce staff, adding, "I fear our work to fight President Obama's illegal Clean Power Plan and onerous Waters of the U.S. rule will be compromised. We do not get reimbursed by any state agency for that work."
Reach Phil Kabler at philk@wvgazettemail.com, 304 348-1220 or follow @PhilKabler on Twitter.