HB 4145
PAY RAISE FOR TEACHERS
AND PUBLIC EMPLOYEES
By Jessica Wintz-Adams
SENATE: 34-0 HOUSE: 99-0
Following years of budget deficits and mid-year spending
cuts, Governor Jim Justice revealed a turn-the-corner general
revenue budget for 2018-2019 that included across-the-board
pay raises for teachers, school service personnel and public
employees at 1 percent per year spread over a five-year period.
The proposed 1 percent increases, along with concerns over
increasing health care costs and premium increases under
PEIA, became the catalyst for a work stoppage that defined
the 2018 legislative session. The work stoppage began on
Thursday, February 22, the day after Justice signed Senate
Bill (SB) 267, which provided teachers, school service personnel
and state police with a 2 percent salary increase that would
begin in July 2018 and included a 1 percent pay hike for
teachers in 2020 and 2021. Leadership for teachers’ unions
said the raises wouldn’t cover cost of living increases, and
the bill didn’t address other concerns related to public em-
ployee insu rance programs, health care costs and payroll tax
deduction legislation.
The strike appeared as though it would end a week later on
February 27 when Justice was able to provide teachers and
Eric Lewis
Accounting Services
Community Leader
Proud West Virginian
Sharp Shooters Class of 2018
Congratulations on this
well-deserved honor.
36
WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE
other education-related employees a 5 percent pay raise in the
first year—provided state lawmakers approved House Bill
(HB) 4145. This 5 percent pay raise would be covered by newly
increased revenue numbers from the governor—up $58
million from initial estimates—but lawmakers, especially in
the Senate, were skeptical of the increased revenue estimates.
The proposed pay hike passed the House, but the Senate made
additional changes that called for a 4 percent pay raise. That
change was rejected by the House, and volleying over the per-
centage amount continued. The debate over salary increases
and how to address PEIA and health care costs brought the
bill to a standstill. With teachers and supporters filling the
Capitol to capacity, many activities that take place to move
the legislative calendar along did not happen.
The strike finally came to an end on March 6, just days
before the legislative session ended. Justice signed a 5 percent
pay increase and initiated a PEIA taskforce to work on a
permanent fix for the health insurance plan.
As a result of giving the 5 percent raise and freezing PEIA
health care increases, the Legislature had to strip many of the
governor’s proposed budget increases, including the elimination
of the business inventory tax. The cuts were necessary since law-
makers elected not to use any of the additional $58 million in
revenue estimates, and should revenue projects exceed expecta-
tions, lawmakers stated they would be able to do supplemental
approbations for those agencies that lost budget increases.
Teachers, school service personnel and supporters were able
to claim victory and have inspired similar movements in two
other states across the country.