Market pay enhancement, 3% salary increase advance despite objections from rural senators

The Senate Finance Committee adopted a strike‑and‑insert amendment and reported House Bill 47‑65 as amended after lively debate over a market pay enhancement formula and distributional effects.

Counsel summarized the proposal as increasing base salary schedules by approximately 3 percent and creating a market pay enhancement calculated from West Virginia median home income compared with regional and county medians; the higher of two multipliers would determine the enhancement, which is capped at 20 percent of the average teacher’s or state policeman’s base salary in that county.

Several senators urged more time or objected to the county‑by‑county outcome. The Senator from Logan said many schools in his district were facing staffing crises and said, “I'd give everybody that's in this bill, I'd give them $20,000 a year pay raise,” arguing the package left much of his district with little benefit. A senior senator from the Sixth echoed those concerns about distribution. The Vice Chairman moved the amended bill to be reported to the full Senate; after a division the Chair announced, “There being 10 votes for, 6 votes against,” and the motion carried.

The amendment also includes reporting requirements to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance and sets the first market pay enhancement calculation for December 2026 with the first payments effective July 1, 2027.