Delaware State News
DOVER - More state workers will be eligible for a larger pay raise when the new state operating budget takes effect July 1.
The legislative Joint Finance Committee approved budget language Monday that will allow state workers hired after Jan. 1 to be eligible for pay increase designed to move them up in their pay grades.
The move affects about 200 employees - mostly nurses and correctional officers - and costs $150,000 to $200,000, according to the state budget and the legislature's controller general's office.
"If they are on the payroll, they will get the increase," said Sen. Nancy W. Cook, D-Kenton, a JFC co-chair.
"We have been trying to do things to recruit more employees. It would be counterproductive not to give them this increase."
On July 1, most state workers will receive a two-part pay raise.
First, employees will see their pay go up 2 percent or $1,100, whichever is greater.
Then, employees will receive an increase equal to 3 percent of the middle of their salary range.
The proposal approved by the committee last month limited the second increase to workers on payroll as of Jan. 1.
The pay proposal will be included in the state's annual budget bill, which the legislature will approve later this month.
Workers making the $21,940-a-year entry-level salary in pay grade 6, which has the most employees of the state's 26 salary levels, would get an 8.8 percent increase to $23,599.
Those at the upper end of the state's pay structure would have their salaries increase 4.5 to 5 percent.
Increasing workers' pay by 3 percent of the middle of their pay range allows employees to move through their pay grades.
Such an increase has only been granted four times since 1987.
"That is definitely good for us," said Michael Begatto, who represents groups of state employees through the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.
"This pay policy is one of the best we have ever seen. The General Assembly stepped to the plate and did the right thing."
The state has launched several initiatives to help recruit more correctional officers and nurses - two professions where the state is significantly understaffed.
The state instituted a bonus system that rewards individuals who sign up to be correctional officers and for the officers that attracted the new recruit to the profession.
For nurses, the state will pay part of their nursing school tuition if the student agrees to work in Delaware facilities.
"It doesn't make any sense for people like nurses and correctional officers not to receive this," said Rep. Joseph G. DiPinto, R-Wilmington, a committee co-chair.
"Hopefully, this will help the recruiting efforts already in place."
The JFC will continue its work Thursday.
The panel is awaiting an agreement from a group of top legislators and Minner administration officials, known as the Big Head Committee, on issues such as full-day kindergarten and tax cuts before it can wrap up the state's operating budget for fiscal year 2006.
Staff writer Joe Rogalsky can be reached at 741-8226 or jrogalsky@newszap.com.
Reprinted with permission from newszap.com
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