Gov. Patrick Morrisey speaks to reporters about his proposal to raise state employee salaries next year during a news conference Thursday, Dec. 11, at the State Capitol in Charleston, West Virginia. (Photo courtesy of West Virginia Governor’s Office Patrick Morrisey)
Gov. Patrick Morrisey is proposing pay raises for state workers next year.
“In my fiscal year 2027 budget, we will provide a pay increase for state employees. Period,” Morrisey told reporters at a news conference Thursday. “That includes teachers, that includes school service personnel, that includes our hard-working state police and so many people – the correctional officers – who work hard every day to make West Virginia a better place to live, work and play.”
Morrisey did not say Thursday how many raises he has in mind. His proposed budget will be released during his State of the State address on Jan. 14, 2026, he said. The governor said he looks forward to working with Republicans in the Legislature on legislation.
“I want to try to work with our colleagues in the House and Senate,” he said. “But it’s important enough that I wanted to send a message, especially before the holidays, that we are working hard to help our teachers, our school service personnel, our state police, our correctional officers and people who we know need a raise.”
Morrisey proposed a teacher pay raise in his first State of the State address earlier this year. During the 2025 session, state lawmakers rejected a bill that would have tied teacher salaries to home values in the counties where they live.
Earlier this week, Republicans in the House of Representatives laid out their plans during the 2026 legislative session for a focus on economic development and job creation, including a wage raise the teachers and school service personnel of the state. State Treasurer Larry Pack has also said he would support the legislation include salary increases for teachers.
“We already know that there are people in the House and Senate who have talked about the importance of teacher pay raises,” Morrsiey said. “I welcome that. I think it’s great, and I can tell you, I look forward to working with the Legislature on the package that ultimately passes.”
West Virginia has the lowest teacher salaries in the country. Public workers, including teachers, have faced rising health care costs in recent years. The Public Employees Insurance Agency increased rates by 14% for state employees from July. The agency’s chief financial officer recently agreed to a total salary raise of 3% fiscal year 2027, which begins in July 2026.
Morrisey said Thursday there is still more legislative work to be done on PEIA, but said he was pleased that the agency’s rate raise was smaller than last year.
“After three years of, I believe, double-digit premium increases, I think you have seen, thanks in part to the hard work of our team and the PEIA board, that premium increases this year are capped at 3%,” he said. “That’s a big difference.”
Morrisey did not offer any specific legislative proposals for PEIA, but said he would be open to discussions with lawmakers about the program.
The legislative period begins on January 14, 2026.
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