State archives asks appropriations committee for $43 million to finish museum projects, fund staff raises and 14 new positions

Representatives of the state archives and history agency told the state appropriations committee they are requesting $43,000,000 this fiscal year to complete capital projects and to implement a multi-year salary strategy for staff.

Agency leaders said the request would fund a salary-strategy rollout tied to the state personnel board’s range adjustments, 14 new positions prioritized by program need, and several capital projects. Shelby Tipton, the agency’s human resources director, described the salary approach as a priority-based, market-driven plan: “Priority 1 individuals are those who are in really high level mission critical roles, who are very successful or who have been with the agency in their current function for more than 10 years. These individuals are eligible for the highest in range adjustment, which is between 67%.”

The agency highlighted three project-level requests it called highest priority. They include:

Grand Village of the Natchez Indians — $9,000,000 to close out construction on the new museum and exhibits tied to that site; agency presenters said other funding…