Ohio County Commission Looks At Not Increasing Pay For Elected County Officials
Trending
WHEELING -- A measure passed by the West Virginia Legislature earlier this year raises the salaries for county commissioners and other elected county officials across the state, but Ohio County commissioners indicated they may not abide by the measure and provide pay increases.
Senate Bill 587 establishes a new pay schedule for county officials, including commissioners, sheriffs, county clerks, circuit clerks, assessors and prosecuting attorneys.
The pay increases were to go into effect June 30, 2026, according to the legislation passed by lawmakers.
Class 1 annual salaries under the new bill are: sheriff, $59,633; county clerk, $71,717; circuit clerk, $71,717; assessor, $59,633; and prosecuting attorney, $124,962.
The yearly salary for county commissioners is set at $47,812.
During Tuesday’s commission meeting, County Administrator Randy Russell explained the increases represent about a 10% higher cost overall for the county.
The state auditor’s office is requesting that the new schedule be included in upcoming county budgets, he informed commissioners.
Commission President Zach Abraham asked if counties had the authority to decline the pay increases.
“The statute does not include any language to formally accept it, nor does the statute include any language giving you the ability to decline it,” Solicitor Don Tennant explained. “On a personal level, the state has taken the action through the legislative process. I do not think it would be wise to decline it. I think it would affect future increases from the Legislature in the future.”
Abraham noted he personally wanted to decline the increase. Tennant noted he could take action to receive the compensation and then donate the pay elsewhere.
Commissioner Don Nickerson said he agreed with Abraham and that he questioned increasing county officials’ salaries as budgets are tightening.
“Is this mandated? Or do we have a choice?” he asked.
Commissioner Randy Wharton noted, “You can never figure out the mind of the Legislature.”
Tennant said he would make calls to the West Virginia Auditor’s Office to find out, but he added in the past when he has called them they didn’t “like to give legal opinions.”
Elected county officials present in the commission chamber Tuesday provided their opinions.
“The West Virginia Association of Counties fought hard for this,” said Sheriff Nelson Croft. “I don’t have an opinion. It is tough (to provide a raise for elected officials) when nobody else is getting anything.”
Elected officials typically receive pay raises about once every eight years, added Clerk of Courts Brenda Miller.
“I have had four over the 27 years I’ve been here,” she said. “It’s kind of hard to say you have to wait 16 years for a pay raise.”
The last pay raises came in 2022, according to records.
“Looking at it from a different point of view -- we have one job, and you have two or maybe more,” County Clerk Mike Kelly told commissioners. “We live off our salary. I want my money.”
Commissioners said they will wait to find out if they are mandated to provide the pay raises before setting them into the budget. If necessary, a special meeting will be called to approve them, Abraham said.