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Rules Committee adopts 2% salary increase and 1.5% merit pool for Senate staff
Summary
The Minnesota Senate Rules and Administration Committee approved a resolution proposing a 2% across‑the‑board salary increase for Senate employees and a 1.5% merit pool; committee members asked about health‑insurance and inflation impacts before adopting the measure by voice vote.
The Minnesota Senate Rules and Administration Committee on June 1 adopted a committee resolution proposing a 2% across‑the‑board pay increase for Senate employees and a 1.5% merit pool intended for performance‑based adjustments.
Secretary Batter, presenting the resolution, said the Management Advisory Committee reviewed compensation options earlier in the year and recommended the increases to remain competitive while recognizing rising personnel costs, including health‑insurance premiums. "The document provides a 2% across the board increase for Senate employees and a 1.5% of salaries," the secretary said.
Senator Limmer questioned how the combined effect of the 2% pay increase and expected employee health‑insurance premium increases compare to general inflation. Secretary Batter responded that inflation and premium changes have been "pretty fluid" and that the committee sought a balance between competitiveness and budget sustainability; he described the merit pool as a limited dollar amount to be distributed based on performance ratings.
The secretary described merit tiers: lower performance ratings receive little or no merit, meeting expectations would typically qualify for up to about 1.5%, and strong performance could reach roughly 2.5% historically, though most employees receive less than the maximum. He said the human‑resources director will prepare guidance on administering the merit increases.
Senator Rest moved to adopt the committee resolution; committee members approved the motion by voice vote. The resolution includes provisions addressing technical pay‑relationship adjustments, education/time‑off matching options, and a continuing technology and communications stipend in the same form as previous years.
The committee’s materials note the Management Advisory Committee includes the secretary, the director of human resources and chiefs of staff from each caucus and that the proposed roster and guidance documents are available to committee members.
