House bolsters pay raises in budget

Teachers, corrections officers, school workers and other state employees would together see about $40 million more in raises in the 2007-2008 state budget as amended by the House Finance Committee. The Associated Press offers the details.

That amount, which includes $21 million for rank-and-file state workers, is in addition to the $29.4 million worth of raises that Gov. Joe Manchin had proposed when he presented his budget Jan. 10.

But House Finance has also actually reduced general revenue spending by $108 million in the budget bill. Among other areas, the committee has cut funding earmarked for a state reserve account, the Teachers Retirement System and higher ed grants.