Advocates Push for Locality Pay Amid Rising Costs in Eastern Panhandle
The Shepherdstown Chronicle discusses the ongoing challenge of securing locality pay for public school employees and state workers in the Eastern Panhandle, emphasizing the discrepancy in housing costs that affects retention in areas like Charles Town and Harpers Ferry. Despite past proposals and a proposed separate fund to address housing costs, the lack of political will continues to hinder progress. With legislators from outside the region opposing the idea, advocates argue the need for a coordinated approach that includes a statewide salary increase to tackle the urgent housing situation for educators and public workers. John Doyle, a former state delegate, highlights the growing representation of the Eastern Panhandle in the Legislature as a potential turning point for this issue.