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The state said last week that Calhoun's elected officials may be one, if not the only county that officials will not receive the 20 percent pay raises authorized by the Legislature.
County Clerk Richard Kirby said that may not be the case, saying the state is now looking at a revised budget, indicating local officials could be eligible for the increase.
The state auditor will make the final decision.
Kirby said "When we put the budget together, the bill had not passed, so we estimated some of the revenues low. We didn't want to be in a situation where we had to take money from other things to cover the pay."
"The state may say we can handle the raises. They have to let us know by the 18th," said Kirby.
If the state says Calhoun County can afford the raises, the new pay rates would be in effect on July 1.
County officials, their current pay and the new rates, if approved:
- Larry McCallister, Robert Weaver and Rick Sampson, county commissioners, $20,360 - $24,432
- Richard Kirby, county clerk, $39,600 - $47,520
- Sheila Garretson, circuit clerk, $39,600 - $47,520
- Matthew Minney, prosecuting attorney, $41,800 - $50,160
- Carl Ballengee, sheriff, 34,925 - $41,910 base pay, plus a commission received for collecting taxes
- Jason Nettles, assessor, $34,925- $41,910 base pay, plus supplemental pay for other statutory duties
Under current West Virginia law, salaries for elected officials are based on the total property valuation for each county.
Calhoun County was recently reclassified as a class nine county this year, moving up from class 10. Wirt County is the only county in class 10.
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