floated the idea of locality pay

West Virginia teachers could see a pay bump based on where they live after the Senate Finance Committee inserted locality pay requirements into the governor’s hallmark teacher pay raise bill. 

Teachers’ potential pay bump would be determined by a calculation that takes into account local and regional median incomes, according to an amendment approved by the committee on Tuesday. 

Only 25 counties would qualify for a potential salary enhancement under the locality pay guidelines, according to data from the state’s board of education. 

Teachers in the state’s wealthier counties, like Berkeley and Jefferson, are likely to see the highest pay increases.

Sen. Rupie Phillips, R-Logan, lamented that locality pay had been folded into a teacher pay raise bill. Only three of the four counties he represents would see a raise, he said. 

“I’ve got schools shutting down in my county. One hundred and thirty teachers got [Reduction in Force] letters last week,” Phillips said. “I really want to vote for the pay raise, but it’s hard to vote for that when the bulk of my district is getting nothing. … This is going to be a Debbie Downer for the counties getting zero.”

Gov. Patrick Morrisey has pushed for a 3% pay raise effective later this year for teachers, school personnel and state police. The House of Delegates unanimously passed the bill last month.

The Senate Finance Committee approved their amended version that includes the locality-based teacher pay raise with a vote of 10-4. 

Sen. Mark Maynard, R-Wayne, explained that most teachers in his district wouldn’t see an additional raise.

“I realize 3% across the board is happening, but it would be really hard to come to vote for this knowing my district is not going to get much out of it.” 

It now goes to the full Senate for consideration, and if it passes, the House would have to sign off on the changes. 

West Virginia has the lowest teacher pay in the nation, and the state doesn’t have enough certified teachers.

The first market-based pay raise would take effect July 1, 2027.

Counties that would be ineligible for an additional locality pay raise are: Barbour, Boone, Braxton, Cabell, Calhoun, Clay, Doddridge, Fayette, Gilmer, Greenbrier, Lewis, Lincoln, Logan, McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Monroe, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Raleigh, Randolph, Ritchie, Roane, Summers, Tucker, Upshur, Webster, Wirt, Wood and Wyoming.