Kansas Governor Laura Kelly is advocating for a 2.5% salary increase for nearly all state employees. Additionally, she is proposing a 5% raise for those state employees who work in facilities that operate round the clock, such as state prisons and hospitals.
According to a presentation by the Kansas Division of Budget, the salary increase is in line with their goal of adjusting salaries to match inflation. The raise also aims to bring employees’ salaries more in line with those in the private sector. The cost of the raise is estimated to be around $90 million, which will be funded by various state sources, including approximately $37 million from the State General Fund.
In the past, Republicans have typically supported pay raises that are determined by how salaries compare to market rates, rather than the across-the-board pay increase that Kelly suggested.
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has included a 2.5% pay raise for all state employees in her budget proposal.
According to Adam Profitt, Kelly’s budget director, the governor’s proposal currently supports a two and a half percent across the board. He mentioned that they are open to discussions if the Legislature wants to explore other options, but their current recommendation remains the two and a half percent increase across the board.
A state market survey was utilized in last year’s budget bill to adjust salaries. The adjustments aimed to provide higher pay for employees making below-market rates and lower pay for those making above-market rates. According to a recent report released on January 8, a larger proportion of state employees are now meeting the benchmarks set for their compensation and benefits.
The salary increase will be given to all employees who work directly for the state and its universities. However, elected officials, teachers at the Kansas State School of the Blind and Kansas State School of the Deaf, and employees on a career progression plan will not be included in this raise.
Kansas state lawmakers are set to receive a pay raise this year, as they did not pass a resolution to prevent their salary from increasing to around $43,000 per year. Previously, they earned approximately $88.66 per day during the legislative session, resulting in an annual income of about $8,200. However, when factoring in additional per diems and allowances, most lawmakers earned closer to $23,500, as reported by the Kansas Legislative Research Department.
