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Member's Press Release

Release Date: 01/10/2018
Contact: Jared Hunt at (304) 340-3323

Tim Armstead

House Leadership Continues Efforts to Streamline Staff Costs

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – House Speaker Tim Armstead, R-Kanawha, today announced his leadership team has continued its commitment to streamline the staff structure for the House of Delegates over the past three years, saving taxpayers more than $1.2 million in payroll costs over that time.

“Since taking over in 2015, Republican leadership has been determined to make government more efficient, and has led by example with its management of the Legislature,” Speaker Armstead said. “We know that every dollar spent by government is a dollar that’s been taken out of the pockets of our hard-working taxpayers, and we want to make sure they’re getting the most out of that money.”

On Wednesday, the House passed House Resolution 1, the annual resolution authorizing the appointment and payment of employees for the coming year.

In 2014, prior to the Republican majority, the House had 49 full-time employees, 68 per diem employees and an annual employee payroll of $3,121,075. This year the House will have 43 full-time employees, 52 per diem employees and an annual payroll of $2,701,858 – a reduction of six full-time employees, 16 per diem employees and $419,217 in reduced annual payroll costs compared to 2014, and $50,200 less than last year’s payroll costs.

The streamlining effort has saved a total of $1.26 million in payroll costs since 2014.

Those totals are strictly salary costs and do not include payment of additional benefits, such as employer insurance and retirement contributions, which would significantly increase the total overall savings.

“These savings are not just the result of efficient management, but have been accomplished through the hard work and productivity of the dedicated employees who work for the House of Delegates,” Speaker Armstead said. “Our employees work long hours and go above and beyond what’s required to assist lawmakers and serve our citizens, and I commend them for the excellent work they do.”

The reductions have been part of a multi-year effort to trim the House’s payroll costs. The annual payroll savings come on top of savings reaped from streamlining the interim committee process and reducing compensation for lawmaker and staff travel.

“While our state’s budget picture is starting to get brighter, thanks to the tough decisions we’ve made over the past few years, that will not stop our efforts to make sure government is operating as efficiently as possible,” Speaker Armstead said. “We hope all agencies will follow our lead and find ways to control costs and ensure our taxpayers’ hard-earned money is being spent as wisely as possible.”


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