Pay raise bills for educators, State Police and non-uniformed corrections workers advance

Pay raise bills for educators, State Police and non-uniformed corrections workers were advanced through the House Finance Committee.

“It’s basically the governor’s pay raise bill as he proposed in his budget is what got passed,” said Delegate Matthew Rohrbach, R-Cabell, the deputy speaker in the House.

House Bill 4883 provides pay increases for state workers whose pay scales are in state code. So, State Police personnel and public school educators would be affected.

As explained to delegates, that means State Police personnel would receive a $2,900 annual salary increase. Teachers would receive a $2,460 annual pay increase. And school service personnel would receive an additional $140 a month.

Gov. Jim Justice has pushed for average 5 percent pay increases for state employees. Workers whose wages are not reflected by wage scales in state code could, potentially, receive raises more broadly through the state’s general revenue budget, which is still being assessed and negotiated.

All that is still subject to discussions and negotiations with senators.

The bills passed from Finance today kick that off in earnest.

“”It’s all going to be in negotiations, but I think the House passed it out easily from Finance,” Rohrbach said on “Talkline.” “I suspect it will pass the floor very easily. And that’s where the Finance committees of the two chambers will get together with leadership and we’ll hammer out a deal, but I feel very strongly for the pay raise.”

House Bill 4734 represents a pay raise for non-uniformed employees of the Divisions of Corrections, juvenile services and the regional jail authority. Last month, the House Committee on Jails and Prisons advanced the bill to provide pay bumps for non-uniformed personnel.

Uniformed corrections officers received pay raises as an outcome of a special legislative session in August.

Governor Justice declared a state of emergency in August 2022 because of the many vacancies in West Virginia’s jails and prisons. The National Guard was deployed to fill support roles in the facilities. Recently, state officials have said unfilled positions have begun to ease, and the National Guard presence can begin to subside.

This bill would provide a $3,000 pay raise for non-uniformed administrative staff who have accumulated three or more years of continuous employment with the corrections system.

Non-uniformed staff who haven’t yet been employed for three continuous years would receive the raise once they do accumulate that number of years.

The total fiscal impact was estimated to be about $2.2 million.

“I’m glad to see the House taking this up,” said Delegate Clay Riley, R-Harrison.

Delegate John Paul Hott, R-Grant, agreed.

“This is making good on a promise and those people continue to stay and support and keep our jails and prisons operating — and operating safely. This is the right thing to do at this time,” Hott said.