Gov. Justice promises teachers, state employees pay raises

CHARLESTON – About one month before the mid-term election and three months before the 2019 legislative session begins, Gov. Jim Justice held a press conference Tuesday, promising pay raises for teachers and other state officials and $100 million toward PEIA.

Joined by Republican lawmakers at the West Virginia Capitol Tuesday morning, the GOP governor said the Legislature plans to commit $100 million toward PEIA and pass a 5 percent raise for state employees next legislative session. Seventeen senators and all 100 delegates are up for election this November.

Last year, thousands of teachers protested over the state Public Employees Insurance Agency’s costs, as well as teacher pay.

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In an interview, Mark Muchow, deputy secretary for the state Department of Revenue, said the $100 million would come from surplus state revenue from four areas: personal income tax, severance taxes on coal and natural gas, corporate income tax and sales tax. He pointed to economic growth thanks to pipeline projects, increased demand for coal exports from overseas, the governor’s roads projects, hotel occupancy and other tourism spending, and health care employment.

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