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HB 4514

Modify determination of high 3 years for Sheriff’s Retirement System

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Eric Brooks and 2 co-sponsors

HB 4514 changes how West Virginia calculates sheriffs' high 3-year average salary for retirement pension benefits, affecting future pension costs and retiree payments.

To House Finance
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Bill Summary · HB 4514

Legislative bill overview

HB 4514 modifies how the "high 3 years" calculation is determined for West Virginia's Sheriff's Retirement System. The high 3 years typically refers to the three consecutive years of highest compensation used to calculate retirement pension benefits. This bill would change the methodology for determining which years count toward this calculation.

Why is this important

Sheriffs' retirement benefits are a significant long-term financial obligation for counties and the state. How the high 3 years are calculated directly affects the amount sheriffs receive in retirement pensions and thus impacts both individual retirees' financial security and public budgets. Even modest changes to this calculation can result in substantial cost differences over decades of retirement payments.

Potential points of contention

  • Fiscal impact uncertainty: Without seeing the specific modification, the change could either increase or decrease retirement liabilities, affecting county budgets and taxpayer costs
  • Fairness across generations: Any change could be viewed as unfairly benefiting or disadvantaging sheriffs hired before or after the effective date
  • Actuarial soundness: The retirement system's long-term solvency depends on accurate benefit calculations; poorly designed changes could create funding shortfalls

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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