CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Teachers, school service personnel and state police troopers would receive an across-the-board $2,300 pay raise in a bill that passed the Senate Finance Committee Tuesday afternoon.
SB 423, sent to the legislature from Gov. Jim Justice, originally had language like the most recent pay raise bills, calling for an average 5% raise, but a committee substitute that came out Tuesday proposes a dollar amount and makes the raises across-the-board.
West Virginia Education Association President Dale Lee said a specific dollar amount will provide a more significant impact for starting teachers.
“We’re trying to raise beginning salaries to attract people into the profession and that’s one way of doing it,” Lee said.
He cautioned against tipping too far in that direction.
“At some point you just have to recognize those who are giving and staying in the state too,” Lee said.
During brief discussion of the bill Tuesday afternoon, the finance committee indicated all other state workers would also receive a $2,300 raise which would come from the state budget. The salaries for school workers and state troopers are in state code and a bill is required to change them.
The fiscal note for the raise, which includes all state workers, is $115 million, an amount that would be added to the base of the state budget.
“The raise is much-needed. It’s a good start and it helps attract people to the profession,” Lee said.
He did express some concern about how changes in PEIA, proposed in a bill that also passed the committee Tuesday, would impact any pay increase.
“The interesting aspect will see how that will raise the (PEIA) premiums,” Lee said.
The pay raise bill now heads to the full Senate.