Bill > SB379

This bill amends West Virginia law to reduce the number of county classifications from ten to five, which are determined by a county's assessed property valuation, and consequently adjusts the salaries of elected county officials and county commissioners. Previously, counties were categorized into ten classes (Class I through Class X) based on property valuation ranges to set compensation for officials like sheriffs, clerks, assessors, and prosecuting attorneys, as well as county commissioners. This bill, effective July 1, 2014, consolidates these into five classes (Class I through Class V) with new, higher valuation thresholds and corresponding salary increases for these officials, with specific provisions for prosecutors employed part-time and additional compensation for assessors. The bill also outlines requirements for budget certification and written agreement from officials to receive these increased salaries, ensuring that salary adjustments are only implemented if sufficient revenue increases are projected and that officials must opt-in to receive the higher pay.