West VirginiaWest Virginia sets July 2026 salaries for elected county officials
West Virginia's law sets annual pay for elected county officials starting July 1, 2026, with amounts that vary by office and county class.
What it does
Annual pay ranges from $25,614 to $47,812 for county commissioners and from $50,202 to $124,962 for other covered officials. Each amount depends on the office and county class.
Officials need no written request to receive the scheduled pay. The state Auditor need not certify that county finances have improved enough to cover the increase and related employment taxes.
Argument forThe scheduled pay could help counties attract candidates willing to take on elected offices and their public duties.
Argument againstPaying the scheduled salaries could leave counties with less money for other services because county budgets must cover officials' pay.
More detail
Counties pay elected officials the salaries listed for their office and county class. Covered offices are county commissioners, sheriffs, county clerks, circuit clerks, county assessors, and prosecuting attorneys. County classes used for the salary schedules are tied to assessed property values. These salary schedules apply on and after July 1, 2026.
Covered county officials receive scheduled pay without an Auditor certification or a written request for the salary increase. This applies to the elected county officials covered by the salary schedules. The law took effect July 1, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 25Chapter 82, Acts, Regular Session, 2026Latest
- Apr 2Became law 4/2/2026
- Mar 19To Governor 3/19/2026To Governor
- Mar 14Became law without Governor's signature- House Journal
- Vote recorded DEBATE LIMIT TO 5 MIN. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Senate receded and passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Senate amended House amendment and passed bill. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Effective July 1, 2026. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Effective July 1, 2026. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 14Became law without Governor's signature - Senate JournalBecame Law
- Mar 14To Governor 3/19/2026 - Senate JournalMinor
- Mar 14Completed legislative action
- Mar 14Communicated to House
- Mar 14Effective July 1, 2026 (Roll No. 710)
- Mar 14Senate receded and passed (Roll No. 709)
- Mar 14House Message received
- Mar 14Communicated to Senate
- Mar 14House refused to concur; requested Senate to recede (Voice)
- Mar 14Motion to limit debate to 5 minutes adopted (Roll No. 697)
- Mar 14House received Senate message
- Mar 14Senate requests House to concur
- Mar 14Effective July 1, 2026 (Roll No. 606)
- Mar 14Senate amended House amendment and passed bill (Roll No. 605)
- Mar 14House Message received
- Mar 13Communicated to Senate
- Vote recorded PASSAGE. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded EFFECT Jul 01, 2026. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 13Effective July 1, 2026 (Roll No. 541)
- Mar 13Title amendment adopted (Voice vote)
- Mar 13Passed House (Roll No. 540)Passed House
- Mar 13Read 3rd timeMinor
- Mar 13On 3rd reading, Special Calendar
- Mar 12Committee amendment adopted (Voice vote)
- Mar 12Amendment reported by the Clerk
- Mar 12Read 2nd timeMinor
- Mar 12On 2nd reading, Special Calendar
- Mar 11Read 1st timeMinor
- Mar 11Immediate consideration
- Mar 11With amendment, do passMinor
- Mar 5To House FinanceMinor
- Mar 5To FinanceMinor
- Mar 5Introduced in HouseMinor
- Mar 5House received Senate message
- Mar 4Ordered to House
- Vote recorded Passage. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Effective July 1, 2026. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 4Effective July 1, 2026 (Roll No. 331)
- Mar 4Passed Senate (Roll No. 330)Passed Senate
- Mar 4Floor amendments adopted (Voice vote)
- Mar 4Read 3rd timeMinor
- Mar 4On 3rd reading with right to amend
- Mar 3Read 2nd timeMinor
- Mar 3On 2nd reading
- Mar 2Read 1st timeMinor
- Mar 2Immediate consideration
- Mar 2Com. sub. for com. sub. reported
- Feb 24To FinanceMinor
- Feb 24Committee substitute reported, but first to FinanceMinor
- Jan 23To Government OrganizationMinor
- Jan 23Introduced in SenateMinor
- Jan 23To Government Organization then FinanceMinor
- Jan 23Filed for introductionIntroduced
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