HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 134

(By Delegates Guthrie, Fleischauer, Fragale,

             Iaquinta, Longstreth, Manypenny, Moore,

              Perdue, L. Phillips, Poore and Skaff)

Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to study whether employees of the State of West Virginia whose salaries are not set by statute should be granted an annual salary increase of $1,000 per year.

    Whereas, The State of West Virginia’s payment of salaries to its employees is a proper expense of state government, necessary to obtain the services of employees qualified to perform the duties and tasks undertaken by the state’s executive branch; and

    Whereas, In 2011 the Legislature amended W. Va. Code §6-7-2a to increase the salaries of certain appointive state officers; and

    Whereas, Although in 2008 the Legislature amended W. Va. Code §5-5-2, to raise from $50 to $60 the annual salary increases payable to state employees with three or more years of service, the levels of salaries paid by the state to employees whose salaries are not set by statute have not kept pace with the rising cost of living or with salaries paid to comparably qualified individuals employed in West Virginia’s private sector; and

    Whereas, Except for the 2011 increases granted to appointive state officers, salary increases for public employees, without regard to merit, seniority, promotion, years of service, or other reason particular to an employee, have been frozen for at least five years; and

    Whereas, The state has in recent years found it necessary to reduce the dollar value of, and increase public employees’ contributions to, public employee benefits, including, but not limited to, the costs of health plan coverage; and

    Whereas, In light of the state’s relatively low salary levels, inflation in the general economy, reduced public employee benefits, and public employees’ correspondingly increased costs, the state finds difficulty, and anticipates future difficulty, in attracting and hiring the most qualified individuals; therefore, be it

    Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is asked to conduct a study of the need for legislation to grant an annual $1,000 salary increase to all public employees, without regard to merit, seniority, promotion, years of service or other reason particular to an employee; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance report to the Legislature, on the first day of the regular session, 2014, on its findings, conclusions and recommendations together with drafts of any legislation to effectuate its recommendations; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this study, to prepare a report, and to draft necessary legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.