Gov. Mike Parson signed a roughly $30 billion budget that outlines the state's spending for the 2020 fiscal year, including the largest pay raise for Missouri Corrections staff in the state Department of Corrections' history.
On Monday, Parson signed the FY20 budget bills, passed by the General Assembly earlier this year. The fiscal year begins in July.
Included in the budget is a pay plan that calls for a 3 percent salary increase for all state workers, plus an additional and ongoing 1 percent increase for every two years of service - up to 20 years - for non-executive Corrections staff, according to a news release from the Missouri Department of Corrections.
The 1 percent retention raise will also apply to all years of previous DOC experience, the news release notes.
The pay increase, which goes into effect in January, will raise Corrections employees' salaries 3-13 percent, the news release states.
"I could not be more excited about this plan or more grateful for the support of House and Senate leadership, the governor and the governor's staff," Missouri Department of Corrections Director Anne Precythe stated in a news release. "Gov. Parson has demonstrated that he is committed to building the state's workforce and that he values Corrections staff, who are some of the hardest-working and most dedicated people in state government. Every day they put their own safety on the line to protect our communities."
The starting salary for a Corrections Officer I position is $31,288, one of the lowest paid corrections worker salaries in the United States, the news release states.
The pay rate, along with the economy and competitive private-section jobs, has "hampered the department's recruitment and retention of corrections officers, leading to overtime and fatigue among staff," the news release states.
The pay plan will be partially funded by the consolidation of two correctional centers in Cameron: Crossroads Correctional Center and Western Missouri Correctional Center.
The budget also earmarks $351 million for replacement and repair of bridges, according to a news release from Parson's office.
There is also $50 million outlined for a transportation cost-share program with local communities.
The budget contains $15.8 million in the State Road Fund for maintenance repairs and construction due to flooding.
The FY2020 budget also includes $105.7 million for workforce development programs.
Compared to this year, the FY2020 budget includes $61 million more in K-12 public school funding, according to the Associated Press. Colleges and universities are each supposed to get at least $1 million more in funding.
Of the approximately $30 billion, $10.2 billion will be in general revenue, according to a news release from Parson's office. About $185 million was set aside for future budgets.
"The budget incorporated the governor's proposal to improve economic and workforce development through a reorganization of state government that was overwhelmingly supported by the General Assembly," the news release states. "These changes will streamline state government and ensure it produces better outcomes for Missourians, which leads to better efficiency and long-term cost savings."