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Appropriations panel trims Veterans Affairs budget amendment over commissioner pay increase
Summary
The Senate Appropriations Committee amended and approved the Department of Veterans Affairs budget bill (Senate Bill 20‑25), cutting funding tied to a recent commissioner pay increase and preserving other program additions including rural transport grants, state approving agency staff and service-dog support.
The Senate Appropriations Committee on Wednesday approved an amended budget for the Department of Veterans Affairs that reduces an administration-proposed pay supplement tied to a recent commissioner salary increase and advances multiple program additions.
The amendment to Senate Bill 20‑25, moved in committee and adopted by roll call, reduced a $100,000 general-fund placeholder for a commissioner salary ‘‘equity’’ increase to $25,000 and preserved funding for an expanded state approving agency position, rural transportation grants and ongoing service‑dog support.
The committee adopted the amendment after members questioned a 46% raise the department’s governing board had given the commissioner. Senator Devers, the member carrying the bill in committee, told colleagues that the Administrative Committee on Veterans Affairs had approved a substantial increase in the commissioner’s pay and that the governor’s budget included $100,000 to cover an equity adjustment. “We thought we should have conversation with the House when it comes toward the end of the session so we reduced that $100,000 to $25,000 so that we will have that conversation,” Devers said during the hearing.
Why it matters: Committee members said they did not want to endorse a large retroactive pay increase without further inquiry. The reduction signals legislative resistance to absorbing the full cost now and leaves room for further negotiation during final budget reconciliation with the House.
What the amended bill does: The amendment preserved or added funding for several program areas described by the sponsor: - A state approving-agency position (federally funded activity that supports veterans using educational benefits), with an increase in the agency allocation. - A highly rural transportation grant program funded with federal dollars (committee discussion referenced $193,000 in federal funding for related transportation support). - Continued, recurring support for a service‑dogs allocation (sponsors noted the biennial practice of providing $50,000 for service‑dog programming). - Authority to spend certain federal grant awards and a $26,500 appropriation from the Melvin Nordgaard Memorial Fund for cemetery and veterans‑home legacy projects.
Committee concerns and context: Several senators pressed on the pay increase. Senator Sickler asked that divisions handle salary-equity requests consistently. Members noted the increase took effect in December 2023 and that the department had already paid out some amounts, prompting the committee’s decision to reduce the state’s immediate appropriation while reserving the issue for further discussion with the House.
Roll-call action: The committee voted to adopt amendment 25.0192.01002 and to give the amended bill a ‘‘do pass’’ recommendation. The committee minutes record the final tally on the bill as passed in committee 15 yes, 0 no and 1 recorded absence.
Next steps: The committee named Senator Devers as the chamber carrier for the bill. The reduced appropriation for commissioner salary equity will be part of the file for cross‑chamber negotiation if the House advances its own version of the budget.
