Email: Chapter 7, Article 7
§7-7-1. Legislative findings and purpose.
(a) The Legislature finds that it has, since January 1, 2015, consistently and annually imposed upon the county commissioners, sheriffs, county and circuit clerks, assessors and prosecuting attorneys in each county new and additional duties by the enactment of new provisions and amendments to this code. The new and additional duties imposed upon the aforesaid county officials by these enactments are such that they would justify the increases in compensation as provided in section four of this article, without violating the provisions of section 38, article VI of the Constitution of West Virginia.
(b) The Legislature further finds that there are, from time to time, additional duties imposed upon all county officials through the acts of the Congress of the United States and that such acts constitute new and additional duties for county officials and, as such, justify the increases in compensation as provided by section four of this article, without violating the provisions of section 38, article VI of the Constitution of West Virginia.
(c) The Legislature further finds that there is a direct correlation between the total assessed property valuations of a county on which the salary levels of the county commissioners, sheriffs, county and circuit clerks, assessors and prosecuting attorneys are based, and the new and additional duties that each of these officials is required to perform as they serve the best interests of their respective counties. Inasmuch as the reappraisal of the property valuations in each county has now been accomplished, the Legislature finds that a change in classification of counties by virtue of increased property valuations will occur on an infrequent basis. However, it is the further finding of the Legislature that when such change in classification of counties does occur, that new and additional programs, economic developments, requirements of public safety and the need for new services provided by county officials all increase, that the same constitute new and additional duties for county officials as their respective counties reach greater heights of economic development, as exemplified by the substantial increases in property valuations and, as such, justify the increases in compensation provided in section four of this article, without violating the provisions of section 38, article VI of the Constitution of West Virginia.
(d) The Legislature further finds and declares that the amendments enacted to this article are intended to modify the provisions of this article so as to cause the same to be in full compliance with the provisions of the Constitution of West Virginia and to be in full compliance with the decisions of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia.
§7-7-2. Establishment of county in-service training programs; further additional duties for prosecuting attorney in any county in excess of 200,000.
(a) There are hereby established county in-service training programs as hereinafter set forth.
(b) The Attorney General may establish any in-service training programs that will do most to assist the prosecuting attorneys in the performance of their duties. The Attorney General is authorized to accept any federal aid which may be made available or any financial assistance which may be available from any private nonprofit organization for the purposes of this section. The prosecuting attorney in any county having a population in excess of 200,000 shall also discharge the additional duties imposed upon him or her by the provisions of §49-4-503 of this code.
(c) The State Auditor may establish any in-service training programs for county commissioners, county clerks, sheriffs, and their assistants and employees that will do most to modernize and improve the services of their respective offices. The State Auditor in conjunction with the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals shall establish in-service training programs for circuit clerks and their assistants and employees. The State Tax Commissioner is authorized and directed to establish such in-service training programs for assessors and their assistants and employees. The State Tax Commissioner, State Auditor, and the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals are authorized to accept any federal aid which may be made available or any financial assistance which may be available from any private nonprofit organization for the purpose of this article.
(d) Each of the county officials mentioned in this section, and, at his or her option, one or more of his or her assistants, deputies, and employees, shall participate in the programs established under this section.
(e) The county commission shall reimburse officials and employees for the actual amount expended by them for food, lodging, and registration while in attendance at authorized training for the purpose of this section.
§7-7-3. Classification of counties for purpose of determining compensation of elected county officials.
(a) Effective July 1, 1996, and thereafter, for the purpose of determining the compensation of elected county officials, the counties of the State of West Virginia will be grouped into ten classes based on their assessed valuation of property, all classes. These ten classes and the minimum and maximum valuation of property, all classes, established to determine the classification of each county are as follows:
Minimum Assessed Maximum Assessed
Valuation of PropertyValuation of Property
Class All Classes All Classes
Class I $ 2,000,000,000 No Limit
Class II $ 1,500,000,000 $ 1,999,999,999
Class III $ 1,000,000,000 $ 1,499,999,999
Class IV $ 700,000,000 $ 999,999,999
Class V $ 600,000,000 $ 699,999,999
Class VI $ 500,000,000 $ 599,999,999
Class VII $ 400,000,000 $ 499,999,999
Class VIII $ 300,000,000 $ 399,999,999
Class IX $ 200,000,000 $ 299,999,999
Class X $-0- $ 199,999,999
(b) The assessed valuation of property, all classes, that shall be used as the base to determine the class of a county shall be the assessed valuation of property, all classes, of the county as certified by the county assessor, State Auditor and county clerk prior to March 29, 1996.
(c) Prior to March 29, 1998, and each second year thereafter, the county commission of each county, shall determine if the assessed valuation of property, all classes, of the county, as certified by the county assessor, State Auditor and county clerk is within the minimum and maximum limits of a class above or below the class in which the county then is. If the county commission so determines, it shall record the new classification of the county with the State Auditor and State Tax Commissioner and record its action on its county commission record.
(d) The classification of each county shall be subject to review by State Auditor. He or she shall determine if the classification of each county is correct based on the final assessed valuation of property, all classes, certified to him or her by the county assessor, State Auditor and county clerk. If he or she finds that a county is incorrectly classified, he or she shall notify the county commission of that county promptly of his or her finding and in any case shall notify the county prior to June 30 of that current fiscal year. Any county commission so notified shall correct its classification immediately and make any necessary corrections in the salaries of its elected county officials for the next fiscal year.
(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of this article, whenever any other provision of this code refers to classifications of counties for purposes of imposing any right, duty or responsibility, the classification system set forth in subsection (a) of this section shall be utilized for determining the classification of a particular county.
§7-7-4. Compensation of elected county officials and county commissioners for each class of county; effective date.
(1) The increased salaries to be paid to the county commissioners and the other elected county officials described in this section on and after July 1, 2014, and on and after July 1, 2022, are set out in subsections (5) and (7) of this section. Every county commissioner and elected county official in each county, whose term of office commenced prior to or on or after July 1, 2014, shall receive the same annual salary by virtue of legislative findings of extra duties as set forth in §7-7-1 of this code.
(2) Before the increased salaries, as set out in subsections (5) and (7) of this section, are paid to the county commissioners and the elected county officials, the following requirements must be met:
(A) The Auditor has certified that the fiscal condition of the county, considering costs, revenues, liabilities, and significant trends of the same; maintenance standards; and the commitment to the provision of county services has sufficiently improved over the previous fiscal years so that there exists an amount sufficient for the payment of the increase in the salaries set out in subsections (5) and (7) of this section and the related employment taxes: Provided, That the Auditor may not provide the certification for the payment of the increase in the salaries where any proposed annual county budget contains anticipated receipts which are unreasonably greater or lesser than that of the previous year. For purposes of this subsection, the term “receipts” does not include unencumbered fund balance or federal or state grants: Provided, however, That the Auditor shall not be held liable for relying upon information and data provided by a county commission in assessing the county’s fiscal condition or a proposed annual county budget; and
(B) Each county commissioner or other elected official described in this section in office on the effective date of the increased salaries provided by this section who desires to receive the increased salary shall have prior to that date filed in the office of the clerk of the county commission his or her written request for the salary increase. The salary for the person who holds the office of county commissioner or other elected official described in this section who fails to file the written request as required by this subdivision shall be the salary for that office in effect immediately prior to the effective date of the increased salaries provided by this section until the person vacates the office or his or her term of office expires, whichever first occurs.
Any request for a salary increase shall use the following language:
I, [name of office holder], the duly elected [name of office] in and for the County of [name of county], West Virginia, do hereby request a salary increase pursuant to W. Va. Code §7-7-4 of this code, as amended. This salary increase is effective ( _________ ).
[Signature of office holder]
[Date]
(3) If the Auditor has failed to certify that there is an amount sufficient for the payment of the increase in the salaries and the related employment taxes pursuant to this section, then the salaries of that county’s elected officials and commissioners shall remain at the level in effect at the time certification was sought.
(4) In any county having a tribunal in lieu of a county commission, the county commissioners of that county may be paid less than the minimum salary limits of the county commission for that particular class of the county.
(5) Prior to July 1, 2014:
| COUNTY COMMISSIONERS | |
| Class I | $36,960 |
| Class II | $36,300 |
| Class III | $35,640 |
| Class IV | $34,980 |
| Class V | $34,320 |
| Class VI | $28,380 |
| Class VII | $27,720 |
| Class VIII | $25,080 |
| Class IX | $24,420 |
| Class X | $19,800 |
After June 30, 2014:
| COUNTY COMMISSIONERS | |
| Class I | $41,395 |
| Class II | $40,656 |
| Class III | $39,917 |
| Class IV | $39,178 |
| Class V | $38,438 |
| Class VI | $31,786 |
| Class VII | $31,046 |
| Class VIII | $28,090 |
| Class IX | $27,350 |
| Class X | $22,176 |
After June 30, 2022:
| COUNTY COMMISSIONERS | |
| Class I | $45,535 |
| Class II | $44,722 |
| Class III | $43,909 |
| Class IV | $43,096 |
| Class V | $42,282 |
| Class VI | $34,965 |
| Class VII | $34,151 |
| Class VIII | $30,899 |
| Class IX | $30,085 |
| Class X | $24,394 |
(6) For the purpose of determining the salaries to be paid to the elected county officials of each county, the salaries for each county office by class, set out in subsection (7) of this section, are established and shall be used by each county commission in determining the salaries of each of their county officials other than salaries of members of the county commission.
(7) Prior to July 1, 2014:
OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS
| Sheriff | County Clerk | Circuit Clerk | Assessor | Prosecuting Attorney | |
| Class I | $44,880 | $55,440 | $55,440 | $44,880 | $96,600 |
| Class II | $44,220 | $54,780 | $54,780 | $44,220 | $94,400 |
| Class III | $43,890 | $53,460 | $53,460 | $43,890 | $92,200 |
| Class IV | $43,560 | $53,154 | $53,154 | $43,560 | $90,000 |
| Class V | $43,230 | $52,800 | $52,800 | $43,230 | $87,800 |
| Class VI | $42,900 | $49,500 | $49,500 | $42,900 | $59,400 |
| Class VII | $42,570 | $48,840 | $48,840 | $42,570 | $56,760 |
| Class VIII | $42,240 | $48,180 | $48,180 | $42,240 | $54,120 |
| Class IX | $41,910 | $47,520 | $47,520 | $41,910 | $50,160 |
| Class X | $38,280 | $42,240 | $42,240 | $38,280 | $46,200 |
After June 30, 2014:
OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS
| Sheriff | County Clerk | Circuit Clerk | Assessor | Prosecuting Attorney | |
| Class I | $50,266 | $62,093 | $62,093 | $50,266 | $108,192 |
| Class II | $49,526 | $61,354 | $61,354 | $49,526 | $105,728 |
| Class III | $49,157 | $59,875 | $59,875 | $49,157 | $103,264 |
| Class IV | $48,787 | $59,536 | $59,536 | $48,787 | $100,800 |
| Class V | $48,418 | $59,136 | $59,136 | $48,418 | $98,336 |
| Class VI | $48,048 | $55,440 | $55,440 | $48,048 | $66,528 |
| Class VII | $47,678 | $54,701 | $54,701 | $47,678 | $63,571 |
| Class VIII | $47,309 | $53,962 | $53,962 | $47,309 | $60,614 |
| Class IX | $46,939 | $53,222 | $53,222 | $46,939 | $56,179 |
| Class X | $42,874 | $47,309 | $47,309 | $42,874 | $51,744 |
After June 30, 2022:
OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS
| Sheriff | County Clerk | Circuit Clerk | Assessor | Prosecuting Attorney | |
| Class I | $56,793 | $68,302 | $68,302 | $56,793 | $119,011 |
| Class II | $55,979 | $67,489 | $67,489 | $55,979 | $116,301 |
| Class III | $55,573 | $65,863 | $65,863 | $55,573 | $113,590 |
| Class IV | $55,166 | $65,485 | $65,485 | $55,166 | $110,880 |
| Class V | $54,760 | $65,050 | $65,050 | $54,760 | $108,170 |
| Class VI | $54,353 | $60,984 | $60,984 | $53,853 | $73,181 |
| Class VII | $53,946 | $60,171 | $60,171 | $53,446 | $69,928 |
| Class VIII | $53,540 | $59,358 | $59,358 | $52,940 | $66,675 |
| Class IX | $53,133 | $58,544 | $58,544 | $52,533 | $61,797 |
| Class X | $48,661 | $52,040 | $52,040 | $47,811 | $56,918 |
(8) Any county clerk, circuit clerk, county assessor, prosecuting attorney, or sheriff of a Class I through Class V county, inclusive, any assessor or any sheriff of a Class VI through Class IX county, inclusive, shall devote full time to his or her public duties to the exclusion of any other employment: Provided, That any public official whose term of office begins when his or her county’s classification imposes no restriction on his or her outside activities may not be restricted on his or her outside activities during the remainder of the term for which he or she is elected.
§7-7-4a. Authorizing the option of full-time status for part-time prosecuting attorneys.
(a) On or before the first day of January, two thousand nine, a county may not have a part-time prosecutor. The county commissions of counties in Class VI through X shall then compensate all prosecuting attorneys that have changed to full-time by virtue of this section at the same rate of compensation established for a prosecuting attorney in a Class V county: Provided, That, upon mutual agreement of the prosecuting attorney and the county commission, the prosecuting attorney may choose to remain a part-time prosecuting attorney.
(b) If, after the first day of January, two thousand nine, during the course of a term of office, pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, any prosecutor who becomes full-time or chooses to remain part-time who believes that the responsibilities of his or her office either no longer requires a full-time position or believes that the duties of the part-time position have become full-time, may, by mutual agreement with the county commission, either return to part-time status or change to full-time status: Provided, That, if the decision to change to full-time or part-time status is made during an election year, the decision must be by mutual agreement between the county commission and the prosecutor-elect: Provided, however, That any prosecutor who returns to part-time status shall, thereafter, be compensated at the rate of compensation set forth in section four of this article for a prosecuting attorney of his or her class county and any prosecutor that changes to full-time status shall, thereafter, be compensated at the same rate of compensation established for a prosecuting attorney in a Class V county.
(c) If, after the first day of January, two thousand nine, any prosecutor or prosecutor-elect desires to change to full-time status and the county commission objects to such change due to an alleged financial condition of the county, then either party may request the State Auditor's office to examine the county's financial condition and certify whether or not there are sufficient funds to support a full-time position. The State Auditor shall then, within ninety days of such request, certify whether or not there are sufficient funds available to support a full-time prosecutor in the county. If the State Auditor certifies that there are sufficient funds available, then the prosecutor or prosecutor elect must be changed to full-time status and be compensated at the same rate of pay as a prosecutor in a Class V county.
(d) Nothing in this section may be construed to prohibit a part-time prosecuting attorney from remaining part-time with the mutual agreement of the county commission.
§7-7-5.
Repealed.
Acts, 1996 Reg. Sess., Ch. 96.
§7-7-6.
Repealed.
Acts, 1996 Reg. Sess., Ch. 96.
§7-7-6a. assessors; additional compensation; additional duties.
In addition to the salary or compensation provided elsewhere in this article, the county commission of each county shall pay to the assessor, on an annual basis, on and after July 1, 1977, additional compensation in accordance with the provisions of this section and section six-b of this article for such additional duties required of him by this section.
To receive such additional compensation, the following duties are hereby imposed upon every assessor of this state:
(1) He shall annually complete a sales ratio analysis in a manner prescribed by the State Tax Commissioner.
(2) He shall present to the Tax Commissioner a list of real property transfers of the prior assessment year by December first annually.
(3) He shall on or before December 1 of each year supply a list of new construction and improvements exceeding $1,000 of the previous assessment year on forms prescribed by the State Tax Commissioner.
(4) He shall on or before December 1 of each year supply a list of new businesses added to the assessment rolls and businesses that have discontinued operations in the previous assessment year and been removed from the assessment rolls.
(5) He shall provide assistance to the Tax Commissioner to disseminate information with respect to the taxation, classification and valuation of nonutility and public utility property to the end that all property shall be more equally and uniformly assessed throughout the state.
(6) He shall annually assist the Tax Commissioner in determining the current use of such real property in his county as the Tax Commissioner may require to accomplish a uniform appraisal and assessment of real property.
The duties hereinbefore listed must be substantially completed by the assessor no later than November 1 of each year, and each assessor shall certify to the Tax Commissioner that he has substantially completed such duties in accordance with requirements of the Tax Commissioner. If at this time there has been substantial completion of the above duties to the satisfaction of the Tax Commissioner, the Tax Commissioner shall, but no later than November 15 of each year, certify to the county commission that the assessor has substantially performed these duties, and is entitled to the remuneration provided for in section six-b of this article.
§7-7-6b. Additional compensation of assessors according to county classification.
For the purpose of determining the additional compensation to be paid to the county assessor of each county for the additional duties provided by section six-a of this article, the following compensations for each county assessor by class, as provided in section three of this article, are hereby established and shall be used by each county commission in determining the compensation of each county assessor; for assessors in Class I - V counties, inclusive, $15,000; for assessors in Class VI and VII counties, $10,000; for assessors in Class VIII and IX counties, $9,000; for assessors in Class X counties, $6,500.
§7-7-6c. Additional compensation of assessor.
The county commission of each county shall allow the assessor a reasonable compensation, not exceeding ten percent of his salary, as provided by section four of this article, for such work as may be required of under article one, chapter nineteen of this code, by the commissioner of agriculture, and no county commission shall allow pay to assessor for performance of duties herein prescribed until such assessor has received a certificate that his reports are completed and satisfactory to said commissioner.
§7-7-6d. Collection of head tax on dogs; duties of assessor and sheriff; registration of dogs; disposition of head tax; taxes on dogs not collected by assessor.
(a) It shall be the duty of the county assessor and the assessor's deputies of each county within the state, at the time they are making assessment of the personal property within such county, to assess and collect a head tax of $1 on each male or spayed female dog and of $2 on each unspayed female dog; and in addition to the above, the assessor and the assessor's deputies shall have the further duty of collecting any such head tax on dogs as may be levied by the ordinances of each and every municipality within the county. In the event that the owner, keeper, or person having in his or her possession or allowing to remain on any premises under his or her control any dog above the age of six months, shall refuse or fail to pay such tax, when the same is assessed or within fifteen days thereafter, to the assessor or deputy assessor, then such assessor or deputy assessor shall certify such tax to the county dog warden; if there be no county dog warden he or she shall certify such tax to the county sheriff, who shall take charge of the dog for which the tax is delinquent and impound the same for a period of fifteen days, for which service he or she shall be allowed a fee of $1.50 to be charged against such delinquent taxpayer in addition to the taxes herein provided for. In case the tax and impounding charge herein provided for shall not have been paid within the period of fifteen days, then the sheriff may sell the impounded dog and deduct the impounding charge and the delinquent tax from the amount received therefor, and return the balance, if any, to the delinquent taxpayer. Should the sheriff fail to sell the dog so impounded within the time specified herein, he or she shall turn the animal over to the local humane society or similar organization.
(b) At the same time as the head tax is assessed, the assessor and the assessor's deputies shall, on the forms prescribed under section four, article twenty, chapter nineteen of this code, take down the age, sex, color, character of hair (long or short) and breed (if known) and the name and address of the owner, keeper or harborer thereof. When the head tax, and extra charges, if any, are paid, the officer to whom payment is made shall issue a certificate of registration and a registration tag for such dog.
(c) In addition to the assessment and registration above provided for, whenever a dog either is acquired or becomes six months of age after the assessment of the personal property of the owner, keeper or harborer thereof, the said owner, keeper or harborer of said dog shall, within ten days after the acquisition or maturation, register the said dog with the assessor, and pay the head tax thereon unless the prior owner, keeper or harborer paid the head tax.
(d) All certificates of registration and registration tags issued pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be issued for the fiscal year and shall be valid from the date on which issued until June 30 of that fiscal year, or until reissued by the assessor or the assessor's deputy in the regular performance of his or her duties, but in no case shall previous registration tags be valid after September 30 of the next ensuing fiscal year.
(e) The assessor collecting the head tax on dogs shall be allowed a commission of ten percent upon all such taxes collected by the assessor and shall turn in to the county treasurer ninety percent of such taxes so collected, as are levied by this section; and the assessor shall turn over to the treasurer or other proper officer of each and every municipality within the county ninety percent of such taxes levied by the ordinances of such municipality. All such dog taxes, except those belonging to municipalities, shall be accredited to the dog and kennel fund provided for in section ten, article twenty, chapter nineteen of this code. Such dog taxes as are collected for and turned over to municipalities shall be deposited by the proper officer of such municipality to such fund and shall be expended in such manner as the law of such municipality may provide. All taxes on dogs not collected by the assessor shall be collected by the regular tax collecting officer of the county and placed to the credit of the dog and kennel fund.
§7-7-6e. Collection of head tax on sheep and goats; duties of county assessors and Commissioner of Agriculture; deposit of tax collections; creation of special revenue fund; purposes.
After June 30, 2005, it shall be the duty of the county assessor and his or her deputies of each county within the state, at the time they are making assessments of the personal property within such county, to assess and collect an assessment of $1 on all breeding age sheep and $1 on all breeding age goats.
The assessor collecting the assessment on breeding age sheep and goats shall be allowed a commission of ten percent upon all such taxes collected and shall send the Commissioner of Agriculture ninety percent of such taxes so collected, who shall deposit the same in a special account in the state Treasury to be known as the "Integrated Predation Management Fund." Expenditures from the Fund shall be for the purposes set forth in this section and are not authorized from collections but are to be made only in accordance with appropriation by the Legislature and in accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter twelve of this code and upon the fulfillment of the provisions set forth in article two, chapter eleven-b of this code: Provided, That for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006, expenditures are authorized from collections rather than pursuant to an appropriation by the Legislature.
The money in the Fund shall be used by the Commissioner solely to enter into a cooperative service agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and Wildlife Services (WS) to expand the Coyote Control Program statewide.
Any person who does not pay this assessment is not eligible for the services provided by this cooperative agreement.
§7-7-7. County assistants, deputies and employees; their number and compensation; county budget.
(a) The county clerk, circuit clerk, sheriff, county assessor and prosecuting attorney, by and with the advice and consent of the county commission, may appoint and employ, to assist them in the discharge of their official duties for and during their respective terms of office, assistants, deputies and employees. The county clerk may designate one or more of his or her assistants as responsible for all probate matters.
(b) The county clerk, circuit clerk, sheriff, county assessor and prosecuting attorney shall, prior to March 2 of each year, file with the county commission a detailed request for appropriations for anticipated or expected expenditures for their respective offices, including the compensation for their assistants, deputies and employees, for the ensuing fiscal year.
(c) The county commission shall, prior to March 29 of each year by order fix the total amount of money to be expended by the county for the ensuing fiscal year, which amount shall include the compensation of county assistants, deputies and employees. Each county commission shall enter its order upon its county commission record.
(d) The county clerk, circuit clerk, sheriff, county assessor and prosecuting attorney shall then fix the compensation of their assistants, deputies and employees based on the total amount of money designated for expenditure by their respective offices by the county commission and the amount expended shall not exceed the total expenditure designated by the county commission for each office.
(e) The county officials, in fixing the individual compensation of their assistants, deputies and employees and the county commission in fixing the total amount of money to be expended by the county, shall give due consideration to the duties, responsibilities and work required of the assistants, deputies and employees and their compensation shall be reasonable and proper.
(f) After the county commission has fixed the total amount of money to be expended by the county for the ensuing fiscal year and after each county official has fixed the compensation of each of his or her assistants, deputies and employees, as provided in this section, each county official shall file prior to June 30, with the clerk of the county commission, a budget statement for the ensuing fiscal year setting forth the name, or the position designation if then vacant, of each of his or her assistants, deputies and employees, the period of time for which each is employed, or to be employed if the position is then vacant, and his or her monthly or semimonthly compensation.
(g) All budget statements required to be filed by this section shall be verified by an affidavit by the county official making them. Among other things contained in the affidavit shall be the statement that the amounts shown in the budget statement are the amounts actually paid or intended to be paid to the assistants, deputies and employees without rebate, and without any agreement, understanding or expectation that any part thereof shall be repaid to him or her, and that, prior to the time the affidavit is made, nothing has been paid or promised him or her on that account, and that if he or she shall thereafter receive any money, or thing of value, on account thereof, he or she will account for and pay the same to the county. Until the statements required by this section have been filed, no allowance or payments shall be made to any county official or their assistants, deputies and employees.
(h) Each county official named in this section shall have the authority to discharge any of his or her assistants, deputies or employees by filing with the clerk of the county commission a discharge statement specifying the discharge action: Provided, That no deputy sheriff appointed pursuant to the provisions of article fourteen, chapter seven of this code, shall be discharged contrary to the provisions of that article.
§7-7-7a. Limit of budget expenditures.
(a) No county clerk, circuit clerk, sheriff, county assessor or prosecuting attorney may, without the approval of the county commission, spend or obligate, before the end of the calendar year, more than fifty percent of the funds allocated for his or her office in the fiscal year budget, in any fiscal year where the person holding the office is leaving office due to either resignation or the results of an election.
(b) As used in subsection (a) of this section, "spend or obligate" includes, but is not limited to, increasing employee salaries to a level that would create a deficit in the budget if paid during the remainder of the fiscal year in addition to other anticipated expenditures.
§7-7-8. Assistant prosecuting attorneys; appointment and compensation; when court may appoint attorney to prosecute.
The prosecuting attorney of each county may, in accordance with and limited by the provisions of section seven of this article, appoint practicing attorneys to assist him in the discharge of his official duties during his 's term of office. Any attorney so appointed shall be classified as an assistant prosecuting attorney and shall take the same oath and may perform the same duties as his principal. Each assistant shall serve at the will and pleasure of his principal and may be removed from office by the circuit court of the county in which he is appointed for any cause for which his principal might be removed.
If, in any case, the prosecuting attorney and his assistants are unable to act, or if in the opinion of the court it would be improper for him or his assistants to act, the court shall appoint some competent practicing attorney to act in that case. The court shall certify to the county commission the performance of that service when completed and recommend to the county commission a reasonable compensation for the attorney for his service, and the compensation, when allowed by the county commission, shall be paid out of the county treasury. No provision of this section shall be construed to prohibit the employment by any person of a practicing attorney to assist in the prosecution of any person or corporation charged with a crime.
The compensation to be paid to an assistant prosecuting attorney shall include compensation provided by law for any services he renders as attorney for any administrative board or officer of his county.
§7-7-9. Procedure for payment of compensation.
(a) The compensation of the county clerk, circuit clerk, sheriff, county assessor, prosecuting attorney, and their assistants, deputies and employees shall be paid monthly or semimonthly by the county court, which compensation shall be paid out of the county treasury in the manner prescribed by law.
(b) The county commission, after the filing of the budget statement specified in section seven of this article, may, by order of record, authorize and order a draft on the county treasurer, payable out of the general county fund, to be drawn in favor of the county official, assistant, deputy or employee named in this statement, in payment of the compensation to which the person is entitled.
(c) The draft shall not be issued to the county official, assistant, deputy or employee until the proper county official has filed a detailed monthly or semimonthly statement with the county treasurer and has filed with the county clerk a duplicate copy of the monthly or semimonthly statement, together with a receipt from the county treasurer, showing that the person to be paid has paid into the county treasury all moneys belonging to the county that have been collected by him or her during that pay period as shown by the monthly or semimonthly statement.
(d) When the order for the draft has been entered of record, the president and clerk of the county court shall be authorized to issue and approve by their signature the draft.
§7-7-10.
Repealed.
Acts, 2004 Reg. Sess., Ch. 57.
§7-7-11. Illegal orders for compensation.
If any clerk shall issue and deliver a draft to any county clerk, circuit clerk, sheriff, county assessor, prosecuting attorney, or any of their assistants, deputies or employees, in payment of their compensation, without all the applicable requirements of this article being complied with, the draft so issued and delivered shall be illegal and invalid. The clerk and the sureties on his or her bond shall be liable to the county commission of his or her county for the payment thereof.
§7-7-12. Sharing compensation prohibited.
No county official shall receive or be paid, directly or indirectly, any part of the compensation of any assistant, deputy or employee, or any fee or reward for appointing him or her to his or her position. No member of a county commission shall receive or be paid, directly or indirectly, any part of the compensation of any other county officer named in this article, or of any county assistant, deputy or employee. If any county commissioner or county official violates the provisions of this section, he or she shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $500, or imprisoned in the county jail not more than one year, or both fined and imprisoned. Any county commissioner or county official so convicted shall forfeit his or her office.
§7-7-12a.
Repealed.
Acts, 1971 Reg. Sess., Ch. 23.
§7-7-13. Allowance for expenses of sheriff.
(a) The county commission of every county shall allow the actual and necessary expenses incurred by the sheriff in the discharge of his or her duties including, but not limited to, those incurred in arresting, pursuing or transporting persons accused or convicted of crimes and offenses; in the cost of law-enforcement and safety equipment; in conveying or transporting a prisoner from and to jail to participate in court proceedings; and in conveying or transferring any person to or from any state institution where he or she may be committed from his or her county, where the sheriff is authorized to convey or transfer the person: Provided, That the law-enforcement agency that places a person under arrest shall be responsible for the person's initial transportation to a regional or county jail, except where there is a preexisting agreement between the county and the political body the other law-enforcement agency serves. Any person transported to the regional jail as provided for by the provisions of this section shall, upon conviction for the offense causing his or her incarceration, pay the reasonable costs of the transportation. The money is to be collected by the court of conviction at the current mileage reimbursement rate. The county commission shall allow the actual and necessary expenses incurred in serving summonses, notices or other official papers in connection with the sheriff's office.
(b) Every sheriff shall file monthly, under oath, an accurate account of all the actual and necessary expenses incurred by him or her, his or her deputies, assistants and employees in the performance and discharge of their official duties supported by verified accounts before reimbursement thereof shall be allowed by the county commission. Reimbursement, properly allowed, shall be made from the general county fund.
§7-7-14. Training of sheriffs and deputies; payment of expenses thereof by county commission.
The county commission of each county is authorized, at its discretion, to expend from the general county fund, upon request and requisition by the sheriff of the county, the necessary and proper travel expenses and tuition expenses for the training of the sheriff and his or her deputies of the county in the performance of their duties, as sheriff and deputy.
§7-7-14a. Personal body armor to be provided to deputy sheriffs; standards; payment of expenses thereof by county commission.
(a) (1) The sheriff of each county shall provide an item of personal body armor commonly known as a ballistic resistant vest to each of his or her deputy sheriffs, subject to the following:
(A) Each of his or her deputy sheriffs who is so employed on July 1, 2013 and who holds a valid law enforcement certification issued under article twenty-nine, chapter thirty of this code on that date, shall receive the vest on or within a reasonable time after July 1, 2013;
(B) Each of his or her deputy sheriffs who is so employed on July 1, 2013 and who is certifiable under the provisions of section five, article twenty-nine, chapter thirty of this code on that date, but who subsequently meets the requirements for certification under that section,shall receive the vest on or within a reasonable time after the date he or she is issued a valid law enforcement certification;
(C) Each of his or her deputy sheriffs who is so employed on a conditional basis on July 1, 2013 and who is not certified or certifiable under the provisions of section five, article twenty-nine, chapter thirty of this code on that date, but who subsequently meets the requirements for certification under that section, shall receive the vest on or within a reasonable time after the date he or she is issued a valid law enforcement certification;
(D) Each of his or her deputy sheriffs who is so employed after July 1, 2013 and who holds a valid law enforcement certification issued under article twenty-nine, chapter thirty of this code on the date of his or her employment, shall receive the vest on or within a reasonable time after July 1, 2013; or
(E) Each of his or her deputy sheriffs who is so employed after July 1, 2013, and who is certifiable as described in paragraph (B) of this subdivision on the date of employment, or who is not certified or certifiable on the date of employment as described in paragraph (C) of this subdivision on the date of conditional employment, but who subsequently meets the requirements for certification under section five, article twenty-nine, chapter thirty of this code, shall receive the vest on or within a reasonable time after the date he or she is issued a valid law enforcement certification.
(2) (A) A ballistic resistant vest or other personal body armor provided under this section or otherwise shall meet the minimum performance standards for the ballistic resistance of personal body armor established by Standards and Testing Program sponsored by the Office of Science and Technology of the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice on the date the personal body armor is provided.
(B) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section to the contrary, no body armor model determined to be unsuitable by the National Institute of Justice may be provided to any deputy sheriff under the provisions of this section.
(3) A sheriff is not required to provide a ballistic resistant vest or other model of personal body armor under this section to a deputy sheriff where:
(A) The sheriff had provided personal body armor meeting the standards established by this section prior to the date upon which the sheriff would otherwise be required to provide it under this section; or
(B) The deputy sheriff owns personal body armor meeting the standards established by this section on the date upon which the sheriff would otherwise be required to provide personal body armor under this section and and elects in writing to decline acceptance of the personal body armor that would be provided under this section.
(b) The county commission of each county shall expend from the general county fund, upon request and requisition by the sheriff of the county, the necessary and proper expenses of providing the personal body armor described in subsection (a) of this section.
(c) No provision of this section may be construed to prevent a county commission, in its discretion, from expending such funds as may be necessary and proper to provide additional ballistic resistant vests, ballistic resistance jackets or other models of personal body armor equipment for the use of the sheriff and his or her deputies, nor to in any manner limit a sheriff from incurring actual and necessary expenses in the discharge of his or her duties for any purpose specified under section thirteen of this article.
(d) Each county commission and sheriff is encouraged to seek available federal and other lawful funds or assistance to defray the expenses incurred under this section.
§7-7-15. Allowance for expenses of prosecuting attorney.
In addition to his or her compensation, the prosecuting attorney and his or her assistants shall be reimbursed for actual traveling expenses within the state in the performance of their official duties, and when out of the state for the purpose of taking depositions in cases in which other counsel is not employed by the court under section one, article three, chapter sixty-two of this code, which expenses shall be duly itemized and verified, and shall, if found correct, be allowed by the county commission and be paid monthly out of the general county fund.
§7-7-16. Mileage allowance for county officials and employees.
(a) The county commission of each county shall allow to each county official and to their deputies, assistants and employees, when they are required to drive their personally owned vehicles in the actual performance and discharge of their official duties, reimbursement at a uniform rate for all individuals as approved by the county commission.
(b) Every county official shall file monthly, under oath, a full and accurate account of all the actual mileage driven by him or her, his or her deputies, assistants and employees, in the performance and discharge of their official duties supported by verified accounts before reimbursement thereof shall be allowed by the county commission. Reimbursement, properly allowed, shall be made from the general county fund.
§7-7-16a. Motor vehicles owned by the county.
The sheriff of each county and his or her deputies who are engaged in law-enforcement activities may, in the discretion of the sheriff, use a motor vehicle owned by the county to travel from his or her residence to his or her workplace and return. Any other county official or employee may, or may not, in the discretion of the county commission, be furnished with the use of a motor vehicle owned by the county to travel from his or her residence to his or her workplace and return: Provided, That such usage is subject to the supervision of said sheriff or commission and is directly connected with and required by the nature and in the performance of such sheriff's, deputy's, county official or employee's duties and responsibilities.
§7-7-17.
Repealed.
Acts, 2008 Reg. Sess., Ch 32.
§7-7-18.
Repealed.
Acts, 1975 Reg. Sess., Ch. 126.
§7-7-19. Compliance with Economic Stabilization Act of 1970.
Nothing herein contained shall be construed to permit the compensation of the judge of any statutory court, officer or employee to be in excess of the amount (taking into consideration the compensation he now receives as supplemental compensation from any county, county court, or other political subdivision) which can be paid under the rules and regulations of the pay board established by the president of the United States by virtue of the authority vested in him by the Economic Stabilization Act of 1970, as from time to time amended; nor shall this section be construed to permit the annual salary of such judge, officer or employee to be reduced to a sum below that which he was being paid by the State of West Virginia and any county, county court, or other political subdivision on June 30, 1972.
§7-7-20. Penalties.
If any county clerk, circuit clerk, sheriff, county assessor or prosecuting attorney fail to file the detailed request for appropriations or the budget statement as provided in section seven of this article or fail to file the monthly or semimonthly statement as provided in section nine of this article or fail to file the statement of expenditures as provided for in section seventeen of this article, or if any county clerk, circuit clerk, sheriff, county assessor, prosecuting attorney, their assistants, deputies or employees, fail to comply with any of the requirements provided in this article, he or she shall, except where another penalty is prescribed, be guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $50 nor more than $100, or confined in jail not less than thirty days nor more than six months, or both fined and confined.
§7-7-21. Severability.
If any provision of this article or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the article, and to this end the provisions of this article are declared to be severable.
§7-7-22. Direct deposit of county officials' and employees' compensation into designated accounts in financial institutions.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, a county commission, Board of Education, or governing body of a municipal corporation may, upon the written request of any of their respective employees, deposit that employee's compensation directly into a demand or time account in a bank, credit union or savings and loan institution. The written request shall specifically identify the employee, the financial institution, the type of account and the account number.
§7-7-23. Awarding service pistol upon retirement.
(a) Upon the retirement of a deputy from the sheriff's department, the county commission shall authorize the sheriff to award to the retiring deputy his or her service pistol upon determining:
(1) That the retiring deputy is retiring honorably with at least twenty years of service; or
(2) The retiring deputy is retiring with less than twenty years of service based upon a determination that the deputy is totally physically disabled.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, a sheriff shall not award his or her service pistol to any retiring deputy medically determined to be mentally incapacitated or to constitute a danger to self or others.