Dec. 2, 2012: Magistrate pay
Magistrate staff pay to be cut for some
Editor:
I am writing to bring to your attention the four counties in the state's Magistrate Court system facing a salary decrease on Jan. 1 due to the salary rules outlined in West Virginia codes 50-1-8 and 50-1-9. Due to a decrease in population in Lewis, McDowell, Wetzel and Wyoming counties as reported by the 2010 Census, 18 staff members will be hit with this salary decrease after the first of the year. The magistrate clerks of these counties will have their annual salaries decreased by approximately $5,100 while the remaining Magistrate Court staff will have their annual salaries decreased by approximately $3,300.
This salary decrease will only save the state approximately $70,000. What makes this salary decrease insulting is that even though the population of these four counties has decreased, their caseload is as high as or higher than some counties in the higher-paid salary-tier who are not threatened by the decrease. This means that beginning Jan. 1, 2013, the magistrate staff of these counties will be doing more work than some higher-paid counties but getting paid less to do it.
My hope is that someone with the power to do so will prevent this upcoming salary decrease for these counties and that action will be taken soon.
Brian Robinson
New Cumberland
Magistrate staff pay to be cut for someEditor:
I am writing to bring to your attention the four counties in the state's Magistrate Court system facing a salary decrease on Jan. 1 due to the salary rules outlined in West Virginia codes 50-1-8 and 50-1-9. Due to a decrease in population in Lewis, McDowell, Wetzel and Wyoming counties as reported by the 2010 Census, 18 staff members will be hit with this salary decrease after the first of the year. The magistrate clerks of these counties will have their annual salaries decreased by approximately $5,100 while the remaining Magistrate Court staff will have their annual salaries decreased by approximately $3,300.
This salary decrease will only save the state approximately $70,000. What makes this salary decrease insulting is that even though the population of these four counties has decreased, their caseload is as high as or higher than some counties in the higher-paid salary-tier who are not threatened by the decrease. This means that beginning Jan. 1, 2013, the magistrate staff of these counties will be doing more work than some higher-paid counties but getting paid less to do it.
My hope is that someone with the power to do so will prevent this upcoming salary decrease for these counties and that action will be taken soon.
Brian Robinson
New Cumberland
Get Connected