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Joint finance committee fails to agree on statewide pay package; four CEC motions deadlocked
Summary
Multiple candidate compensation packages — flat dollar, governor's 5% merit, merit-based up to 4%, and hybrid options — failed to secure the majorities required under the committee’s voting letter. Committee members debated merit vs. flat increases, trooper pay and parliamentary procedure; no statewide CEC decision was made.
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee was unable Thursday to adopt any of four competing employee-compensation (CEC) motions for fiscal 2026 after extended debate over distribution methods and voting procedures.
Four distinct proposals were on the table: a dollar‑per‑hour approach that would provide $1.55 per hour per FTE and targeted supplements to specific groups; a dollar‑plus‑3% floor to guarantee a minimum 3% for all employees; a merit‑based up to 4% proposal; and the governor’s recommended 5% merit‑based increase. Committee analysts provided detailed calculations showing different distributions and total costs for each motion, but members repeatedly failed to ratify any option.
Representative Miller initially moved the $1.55 per hour proposal (Motion 1), which the analysts calculated at $84,411,000 for the statewide dollar amount and a $177,429,000 total when including community colleges, public schools and other pay adjustments. Senator Cook proposed a merit option (Motion 3) described as “either a dollar $1.55 or 4% by merit, whichever is greater,” while Senator…
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