Gov. Jim Justice will be giving his eighth and final State of the State address tonight, where at least two things will be on his menu: a pay raise for public employees and a flat budget.
Justice is expected to lay out his priorities for the 2024 legislative session and give an overview for the state budget. In the past, the governor’s annual address has been marked by nonsensical turns of phrase and props — most infamously, his dog’s hindquarters.
But Justice’s push for a 5% pay increase for state employees and teachers might have some opposition from within his own party. Both Senate President Craig Blair, R-Berkeley, and House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay, said they’re in favor of it, but only as long as there’s money available.
The raise is intended to offset rising PEIA rates, which Justice had vowed wouldn’t happen on his watch as governor.
The flat budget, which has been standard procedure during the Justice administration, means the budget will be roughly the same as last year’s $4.9 billion, despite inflation.
Blair said Friday keeping the budgets flat will force agencies to make do with less, exposing what he called “inefficiencies” in government operation.
The State of the State Address will be at 7 p.m. and will air on television at West Virginia Public Broadcasting and on the radio at your local West Virginia NPR affiliate. It will also be streaming live on Youtube, on Facebook and on X, formerly Twitter.