Pay-raising budget moves to Senate

Monday, March 26, 2012

Pay raises for Missouri’s state employees stayed in the budget as it passed the House last week, and now is headed to the state Senate.

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The House version includes a 2 percent, across-the-board raise for all employees who earn less than $70,000 a year.

“That’s a great deal,” said state Rep. Jay Barnes, R-Jefferson City. “It’s not as much as they need, but, in a tough budget climate — it’s been four years since there’s been a state employee pay raise — and now we’re getting a 2 percent raise for the folks who need it the most.”

Gov. Jay Nixon’s budget plan, submitted to lawmakers in January, included a 2 percent raise for all state employees — but it didn’t start until Jan. 1, 2013.