Kitchen Table Issues: What We Spend Our Money On Is What We Value!

Every family in West Virginia understands “kitchen table economics.” You sit down, look at what’s coming in, look at what’s going out, and make choices based on what matters most. You invest in your kids, your home, your future. You cut back on the things that don’t strengthen your family.

State government should work the same way.

When West Virginia passes a budget, it’s more than a spreadsheet. It’s a statement of values. It tells us what our leaders believe is worth investing in, what they’re willing to sacrifice, and who they expect to carry the burden. The question for all of us is simple: Does the state budget reflect the values and voices of our communities—and does it deliver results, not rhetoric?

Where We Are Today

West Virginia’s budget has shifted dramatically in recent years. Major tax changes, new education programs, and fluctuating revenue streams have reshaped how dollars move through Charleston. Families across Jefferson County and the Eastern Panhandle feel the effects of these decisions every day—whether through school funding, infrastructure needs, emergency services, or the rising cost of basic necessities.

When the state reduces revenue at the top, counties often feel the squeeze at the bottom. Local governments rely heavily on property taxes to fund essential services, and when state policy shifts without providing stable replacement funding, communities are left to make up the difference. That means harder choices for school boards, county commissions, and families who are already stretched thin.

And too often, these decisions are made without meaningful engagement from the people who live with the consequences.

What Our Communities Value

Across Jefferson County, people consistently emphasize the same priorities. These conversations—at kitchen tables, in school gyms, at small businesses, and on front porches—reveal a shared understanding of what truly matters:

• Strong public schools that prepare our kids for the future

• Safe neighborhoods with reliable emergency services

• Clean water and healthy communities

• Economic opportunity that keeps young people here

• Support for working families and seniors

• Responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars

• A government that listens and works for the community they serve

  
  

These aren’t partisan ideas. They’re the everyday expectations of people who want their state to function with competence, fairness, and accountability. They reflect a simple truth: when government decisions align with community values, everyone benefits.

Does the State Budget Match Those Values?

That’s the heart of the conversation.

When state dollars flow away from public schools, counties must stretch their budgets to fill the gap. When infrastructure funding lags, families pay the price through longer commutes, unsafe roads, and delayed economic growth. When behavioral health services are underfunded, the consequences show up in our schools, our workforce, and our justice system.

And now we know something even more troubling: West Virginia has allowed more than $34 million in medical cannabis revenue—money specifically intended for substance use treatment, research, and law‑enforcement training—to sit untouched for years. Reporting from Mountain State Spotlight shows that since dispensaries opened in 2021, the state has collected tens of millions of dollars in fees and revenue, yet none of it has been released for its intended purposes.

State law already directs these funds to support residents with substance use disorder, strengthen public safety, and advance medical research. These are urgent needs in every county. Families struggling with addiction, schools responding to youth mental‑health crises, and communities working to keep people safe all feel the impact when promised resources never reach the ground.

Other states with medical cannabis programs have found ways to responsibly use their revenue despite federal restrictions. West Virginia could have done the same. Instead, the money has remained idle while communities continue to shoulder the burden of untreated addiction and underfunded behavioral health services.

This is exactly why community engagement matters. When decisions are made far from the people who live with the consequences, priorities drift. A budget that reflects community values would never allow critical behavioral‑health dollars to sit unused while families and providers struggle.

This is where results, not rhetoric must guide our choices.

A budget that reflects community values would:

• Strengthen—not weaken—local control and local decision‑making

• Ensure stable, predictable funding for public schools

• Invest in clean water, safe roads, and modern infrastructure

• Support the workforce we depend on: teachers, nurses, first responders, and service workers

• Protect taxpayers by planning for long‑term sustainability, not short‑term headlines

• Ensure that the community is engaged and their voice is heard

  
  

A Better Path Forward

As a candidate for the House of Delegates, I believe West Virginia can do better when it comes to aligning our budget with our values. That starts with listening—really listening—to the people who know their communities best. It means holding open forums, partnering with local leaders, and making the budgeting process transparent and accessible. And it means grounding decisions in data, accountability, and the lived experiences of West Virginians.

Every dollar in the state budget comes from a West Virginian who earned it. Respecting that means respecting their voice—and delivering outcomes that match their priorities.

Our state’s future depends on the choices we make today. If we invest wisely—guided by the values and voices of our people—we can build a West Virginia where families thrive, businesses grow, and every child has a fair shot.

That’s the work ahead.

That’s the commitment, Results, Not Rhetoric.

Thanks for taking time today.

Robert Vincent, Candidate for the House of Delegates,

Jefferson County, District 99