CHARLESTON, WV - A law to correct chronically low salaries among state Division of Corrections' employees is on Governor Joe Manchin's radar, but probably won't be addressed until next year's legislative session, legislators were told Tuesday.

“We're at the low end of the pay scale not only at entry level, but for all positions at all divisions,” Corrections Commissioner Jim Rubenstein told an oversight committee on regional jails and corrections.

Low pay has contributed to a nearly 20 percent annual turnover rate for correctional officers in the state, notably above the 16.6 percent national average.

Rubenstein said having a stable Corrections work force is critical to the state, because they deal with the “worst of the worst” on a daily basis.

“The repercussions if they don't do their jobs professionally and correctly certainly can have disastrous results,” he said.

West Virginia pays entry-level correctional officers a salary of $20,124, below the national average and below all surrounding states except Kentucky.
Rubenstein said the division constantly loses correctional officers to federal prison facilities, where the starting entry-level salary is $6,000 higher.

“We feel we're at the low end of the totem pole with these salaries,” he said.
The upswing in the state's economy also makes it difficult to find and retain Corrections employees, he said.

“Historically, when the economy is good and the unemployment rate goes down, it's bad news for Corrections,” Rubenstein said.
Sen. Andy McKenzie, R-Ohio, said he had met with Gov. Joe Manchin on Monday and discussed Corrections pay, among other issues.

“He's gotten the message loud and clear from you and your employees,” McKenzie told Rubenstein.

Manchin said he would make Corrections salaries a priority for the 2007 regular session, McKenzie said.

Rubenstein said he has had preliminary discussions with the governor's office on pay increases. He said Corrections has been trying to come up with figures for pay increases that would curtail the turnover problems, but also would be fiscally responsible for the state.

“We've looked at figures of $3,000 across the board, $5,000 across the board, and we've tried to crunch the numbers on what impact that would have fiscally on each of the divisions,” he said.