W.Va. Government Gets a C+ from Pew

But the national average is a B- in the latest Grading the States report from the Pew Charitable Trust's Government Performance Project.

The state's government earned its best grade, a B, in the money category. It reflects "how states manage fiscal resources, including budgeting, forecasting, accounting and financial reporting, procurement, contracting, investments, and debt."

West Virginia's worst grade was a C- for infrastructure. That category gauges how states "maintain, improve and plan for future physical infrastructure needs, including roads, bridges and buildings."

The report also graded states for what they are doing "to recruit and retain strong professionals and offering development and recognition for top-level service," and to "apply data and technology to measure the effectiveness of services, make decisions and communicate with the public." West Virginia earned Cs in the people and information categories.

A spokeswoman for Gov. Joe Manchin tells The Associated Press that "the areas of concern mentioned in the study are areas that we have previously identified as challenges and are working hard on."