House and Senate leaders said the agreement between the House and Senate on a pay package for state employees is a huge step toward ending the current Legislative session.
The plan calls for two percent raises in the first year of the upcoming biennium. It comes with a $120 per month minimum and a $200 per month maximum. That will affect a vast majority of state employees. Those are the workers at the lower end of the spectrum.
"I think it starts us to get toward the end," said House Majority Leader Chet Pollert (R-Carrington). "That helps us settle maybe 25, or a third, of the appropriations bills without having to go to conference committee. That will help us get down to the bigger bills and subject matter."
Senate Majority Leader Rich Wardner (R-Dickinson) agreed. He said he was also concerned about the higher salaried people.
"Some of them are very skilled," Wardner said. "Some of them have talents that we really need."
Wardner said there is a plan for them as well.
"We're putting in language that the agencies can use 'roll-up' or turnback dollars to give raises," Wardner said. "That would be for retention, or compression or merit, whatever they want to call it."
Those “roll-up” dollars are budgeted for, but not being spent.
Wardner also said the Legislature is agreeing to fund the increased health insurance costs for state workers.
As to how this might effect when the gavel falls to end the session, Wardner said his best guess is the week after Easter, perhaps April 24th.
