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New House pay plan less than Gov. Dalrymple's plan

House Republicans have come up with a pay plan – that they say is close to what Gov. Dalrymple proposed for state employees, but with some fundamental changes.

Dalrymple proposed a “five and five” plan – but not across the board. That plan called for equity adjustments, to bring critical staff up to market rates. And it increased the retirement contribution. The Senate adopted that plan.

House Majority Leader Al Carlson (R-Fargo) says the House plan is essentially a net “three-and-three” plan – and it does not increase state contributions for the retirement plan.

"The state's already paying over 10 percent on the retirement plan, and the employees are paying two percent," said Carlson. "He (the Governor) wanted to increase that. We think it's time to take a good, hard look at the whole process, instead of adding money to something that isn't returning very well."

Carlson says the House version has some equity money for the lowest paid state workers.

"We're trying to address the lowest quartile, to get them up to the most competitive level we can," said Carlson.

Carlson says the plan keeps the fully-paid health insurance plan for state workers. He says the intent language will be in the Office of Management and Budget funding bill.

The executive director of the North Dakota Public Employees Association isn't happy with the House plan.

"It's despicable political gamesmanship," said Stuart Savelkoul. "Rep. Carlson was going to come in lower that whatever the Governor proposed, regardless of what the Governor proposed. It's disrespectful of state employees."

Savelkoul says the state is losing good people to the private sector. And he says that has consequences.

"When you have hundreds of open positions, like we do right now, you are taking enormous risks with the safety and the general well being of North Dakotans," said Savelkoul. "We need to respond to those market factors, and fill those state positions."

The Senate has already endorsed Dalrymple's proposal.

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