By Joe Rogalsky,
Delaware State News
DOVER — When the new state operating budget takes effect Friday, state workers will begin earning more money.
Legislation implementing the $2.82 billion spending plan will be a top priority when the Senate and House of Representatives convene this afternoon.
The legislative session will end early in the morning Friday.
Shortly after the budget bill wins legislative approval, Gov. Ruth Ann Minner will sign it into law.
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.
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.
"If we want to have good state employees and be able to keep them, we have to pay them fairly," said Rep. Peter C. Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach, a member of the budget-writing panel.
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.
"This is one of the best pay packages state employees have received," said Michael A. Begatto, who represents about 6,000 state workers through the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.
"The legislature and the governor really stepped up to the plate."
Correctional officers and probation and parole officers will see their hazardous duty pay increase by $600 a year under the budget. Correctional officers could see additional raises as well.
The budget includes language allowing the officers to seek a series of mid-year pay increases.
Correctional officers and other employee groups who received previous mid-year adjustments can apply again year after year as long as the state continues to struggle with staffing levels at the positions.
Last summer, the state approved 5 percent "selective market" raises effective Jan. 1 for correctional officers because the Department of Correction was experiencing extreme difficulty in recruiting and retaining officers. Jan. 1 is the middle of the state's budget year.
Normally, once a class of employees goes through the selective raise process, they do not go through it again for several years.
That process gives raises to certain groups of workers beyond the general pay increases included in the annual state budget.
Besides the general pay increases and hikes for correctional officers, other groups receiving state money will be paid more.
The operating budget includes an additional $6.5 million for school bus contractors and additional money for organizations providing child care, substance abuse and mental health counseling and assistance to the disabled.
Top-level state employees who received raises in February through the Delaware Compensation Commission willl not get additional increases through the operating budget.
Statewide elected officials except for Gov. Minner, the legislature, Cabinet secretaries and the judiciary received raises ranging from 9 to 20 percent based on the commission's recommendations.
Staff writer Joe Rogalsky can be reached at 741-8226 or jrogalsky@newszap.com.
Reprinted with permission from newszap.com
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