ACCE Mountaineer Spirit March 8, 2001 Article
Paul R. Martinelli

Visits to the State Capitol took place on February 21 and 22 to give ACCE members our first opportunity to meet with members of the legislature. The primary reason for these meetings was to distribute the ACCE Legislative Information 2001 Brochure and discuss staff issues for consideration during the legislative session.

Our legislators acknowledge that they consider higher education a vital ingredient in the economy and growth of the State this year. They are appalled that some staff employees qualify for food stamps. Legislators that we met, agree that a market driven salary schedule, in State Code is needed to address classified employees low salaries.

One of the more important meetings attended was a presentation by the HEPC Interim Chancellor before the House Education Committee. A lengthy discussion of higher education funding, in particular, if funding for classified staff salaries, was included in the Governor's budget. The Policy Commission financial staff reported, funding for a $756 (a one-half increase of $378) effective January 1, 2002, was in the General Revenue Budget. This was a major debate item because the exact language in the Governor's State of State address did not clearly identify higher education for the $756 increase that was recommended for state employees. The 2002 General Revenue Budget does list on page 3 an allocation of $3,006,860 for half year salary and benefits for all remaining state employees and school personnel.

According to the House Budget analyst and the Governor's budget office, all higher education full time employees, non-classified and faculty are in line for the same across the board increase in January 2002. When I asked these two sources if classified employees could "take this increase to the bank" the replied was no. There are too many factors to consider, such as revenue estimates for video gaming ($22,000,000), smokeless tobacco ($6,000,000) and the various bill posturing that legislators make during the session.

Four important bills were introduced in the first week of the session that could greatly benefit staff, are condensed as follows:

• SB 38 - The purpose of this bill is to increase from 20 to 30 the number of allowable years of service used in calculating the increment increase for higher education classified employees.
• HB 2234 - This bill provides classified staff salary increases and the annual increment increase applies to thirty years of experience rather than twenty years.
• HB 2209 - This bill prohibits the use of accrued annual and sick leave for extended PEIA insurance coverage for new hires after July 1, 2001. This prohibition does not apply to the conversion of sick and annual leave for increased retirement benefits.
• HB 2171 - The purpose of this bill is to specifically determine the amount of employees and board contributions to the supplemental and additional retirement plans selected by the governing M boards of higher education.

The next ACCE meeting is scheduled March 20, 2001 with the Senate Education Chair and Vice Chair. SB 653 and higher education issues will be discussed. My March article will focus on the State's General Revenue/ Lottery Budgets and the ACCE meeting with the Senate Education Chairman.