Delegates are advancing pay raise bills for West Virginia teachers and school service personnel.
The House Education Committee on Monday approved House Bill 2828 to provide pay raises for teachers. The bill next goes to the House Finance Committee.
As explained by counsel, the bill would adjust teachers’ starting salaries from $39,000 up to $44,000. Following that, other salary levels established through statutory formula would also adjust upwards.
A fiscal note from the state Department of Education estimates the cost to the state would be a little more than $171 million.
Delegate Wayne Clark, R-Jefferson, praised lawmakers for supporting the bill, citing the competitive hiring environment for teachers in the Eastern Panhandle.
“And I hope that this bill continues to make its way through its legislative process and becomes law at the end of this year, so that we can finally show our teachers that we’ve been listening and we want to help and make things better,” Clark said.
Delegate Dana Ferrell, R-Kanawha, also expressed support for the bill.
“I agree this is long overdue,” Ferrell said.
A separate bill, House Bill 2598, would increase salaries for school service personnel. That bill, advanced by House Education, also now goes to House Finance.
A fiscal note for that measure estimates the cost to the state would be $121 million. That could vary annually depending on the number of service personnel in various job descriptions and their degree level.
Gov. Jim Justice has spoken in support of pay raises for educators. But in his State of the State address, the governor spoke more broadly about pay raises for state employees.
“I am proposing for the fourth time, a 5 percent pay raise to every one of our state workers,” Justice said in his address. “We can afford to do this. And, absolutely I think it gives us the opportunity to attract better and better and better.”
So far, though, lawmakers are considering raises for particular categories of employees, like educators.
Last week, the House Jails Committee advanced House Bill 2879 that addresses shortages of corrections officers through raises and bonuses. A fiscal note addressing that bill estimates the total cost at full implementation could be about $43 million.
“This is a difficult job. They deal with difficult situations and people,” Delegate Joey Garcia, D-Marion, said on MetroNews’ “Talkline,” referring to more than 1,000 vacancies in the jail system.