"We Can Do Better": WVa. Treasurer Outlines Legislative Goals

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Focus on Education and Local Control

West Virginia Treasurer Larry Pack has outlined several key priorities for the upcoming legislative session, with a strong emphasis on education. His proposals aim to improve the state's educational system and provide more autonomy to local school districts.

Increasing Teacher Salaries

Pack highlighted the importance of investing in public schools as a way to attract and retain residents in West Virginia. He emphasized that teachers are crucial to the education system and should be compensated fairly.

"Teachers are the VIPs in the education world," Pack stated. "We are currently ranked 50th in the nation for teacher compensation. We can do better. Our starting salary for a new teacher is about $42,000, and our average teacher salary is around $51,000."

Pack proposed a law that would ensure every teacher in the state earns at least $50,000. Teachers who already earn this amount or more would still receive an additional $2,000. This initiative is modeled after a similar law passed in Arkansas.

"We need to pay our teachers well to attract and retain quality educators," he said. "This can be done using surplus funds without raising taxes or cutting other programs."

The goal is to not only attract new teachers but also show appreciation for current educators. By increasing salaries, Pack believes the state can demonstrate its commitment to teachers and the education system.

Enhancing Local Control

Another priority for Pack is increasing local control over schools by revising the school aid formula. This formula determines how the state allocates funding to school districts.

Currently, the system is described as a "one size fits all" approach, where all school districts must follow the same guidelines regardless of their size or location. Pack argues that this limits the ability of local school boards to make decisions that best suit their communities.

"We have to give our counties more flexibility if we want to keep more schools open," he explained. "By allowing school boards to decide how to spend their funds, we can help prevent the closure of schools in rural areas."

Pack believes that giving local districts more control over their finances could reduce the number of school consolidations. This would allow each county to tailor its education spending based on its specific needs and circumstances.

Eliminating State Income Tax on Tips and Overtime

In addition to education-focused initiatives, Pack has urged Governor Patrick Morrisey to support legislation that would eliminate the state income tax on tips and overtime. This proposal aligns with efforts led by President Donald Trump to reduce tax burdens on workers.

While details of the legislation are still being developed, Pack sees this as an opportunity to provide relief to low- and middle-income earners. By removing the tax on tips and overtime, the state could potentially boost the earnings of many workers.