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Agriculture commissioner presses legislature to raise inspector pay and add three inspectors
Summary
Commissioner Anna Gibson told the committee raising inspector pay is the agency's top priority to curb turnover; the department seeks SPB-supported salary increases, salary progressions and three additional inspector positions (two seafood, one meat).
Anna Gibson, commissioner of agriculture and commerce, opened the department’s presentation by saying the top priority is to raise pay for the department’s inspectors so the agency can recruit and retain a field workforce of roughly 100 inspectors.
Gibson said starting pay for some inspector positions is as low as $30,568 and described a recommended pay adjustment developed with the State Personnel Board that would raise that example position to $39,210. She told senators the SPB-supported portion of the plan totals about $1,397,678 and that additional salary progression authority would add further personnel costs.
The department also requested three additional headcount positions—two seafood inspectors and one meat inspector—and explained that inspector work requires lengthy, specialized training. Jennifer Thompson (director of regulatory) said turnover is high: in one reporting period she said the agency replaced 15 employees and that turnover over five years in some programs has been roughly 61%.
Senators asked for a detailed list of positions and pay comparisons; SPB representatives present said they stand ready to implement the plan if funded.
