Bill > HB2497

This bill mandates a Locality Pay adjustment for state employees in West Virginia, to be implemented on July 1, 2027. The bill recognizes that state employee salaries are becoming less competitive with neighboring states and private sector wages, and aims to address this through targeted pay increases. The Locality Pay adjustments will be determined by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) General Schedule for wages, applying only to counties specifically designated on the OPM Locality Pay Tables. The percentage increase will correspond to the OPM-determined rate for each designated area, and will be applied annually on July 1st to all positions regardless of classification or title. Importantly, the bill explicitly states that these adjustments do not apply to elected or appointed state officers and that no employee can create a grievance or legal action based on this policy. The bill requires executive branch agencies, the State Police, and county boards of education to implement these Locality Pay adjustments, with the goal of improving state government's ability to recruit and retain employees by offering more competitive compensation.