BOISE, Id – Do Idaho state employees need more money? That was the question before budget lawmakers today. Governor Butch Otter has proposed a one-time, three percent, merit-based bonus in fiscal year 2013. The last time state employees received a raise of any kind was in fiscal year 2009. Theresa Luna directs the Department of Administration. She said back then, state employee compensation lagged behind the private sector.
Theresa Luna “At that time when we rated ourselves, or looked at ourselves against, I think it was the seven biggest private companies in Idaho, we were about fifteen percent, the total compensation package was about fifteen percent less than the private sector, including benefits and pension and retirement.”
Lawmakers heard about the difficulties of finding, and keeping, qualified employees in many state jobs. Viki Tokita is the Administrator at Human Resources.
Viki Tokita “I believe the issue really is the money. If the agencies don’t have the money to hire those individuals at a higher rate, than it’s very difficult to recruit and retain those individuals.”
Tokita says Idaho state worker salaries are now 18.6 percent behind market rates. Lawmakers will decide this session whether to approve the Governor’s proposal. Under Otter’s plan, the bonus would only be distributed if the state meets its revenue targets. The proposed bonus would cost the state 41-million dollars.
Copyright 2012 BSPR
