Morrisey says pay increases for most state employees is a top priority
By Autumn Shelton, RealWV
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Just two days after West Virginia House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay, announced that teacher pay raises would be a top priority of the House of Delegates during the upcoming legislative season, Governor Patrick Morrisey held his own press conference where he said that pay raises for teachers, as well as state troopers, correctional officers and more, is also one of his top priorities.
“In my budget for next year, fiscal year 2027, we will have a pay raise for state employees,” Morrisey said, adding that these pay raises will include those state employees who are funded through general revenue.
Although Morrisey did not say how much those pay raises would be, he did say that he looks forward to working with the legislature to make the final determination.
“We know that the people we are trying to help today, these are the people that are teaching our kids, they’re fixing our roads and bridges, they’re guarding our prisons, they’re protecting us from the bad people out there, and they administer many of the programs that our citizens rely on,” Morrisey said.
In addition to pay raises, Morrisey said that his other priorities will include the “fundamentals” of economic development, including creating ready sites for prospective businesses, improving broadband access, developing affordable energy resources, and improving the state’s water and sewage systems to better compete with neighboring states.
“It’s no secret that we’ve been making economic development our top priority, consistently, every day over the last year,” Morrisey added. “And, we’re working to build jobs and opportunities throughout West Virginia.”
Since October, the state has made economic development announcements that will bring over $5 billion into the state’s economy, as well as 5,500 anticipated jobs.
“We’re really hopeful we are going to have additional announcements coming soon,” Morrisey stated.
Income tax cuts and continued red-tape cutting were also some areas of focus for the upcoming session mentioned by the Governor.
The second regular session of the 87th Legislature convenes on January 14. This is also the date set for the Governor’s State of the State address.
