(WSIL) -- Governor Mike Parson announced he will recommend a 5.5% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) and $15 per hour minimum base pay standard for all state employees across state government.聽
"With many positions across state government facing turnover rates anywhere from 10-100 percent and vacancy rates from 30-100 percent, it is past time for us to make these investments in our state workforce, which remains one of the lowest paid the nation,"聽Governor Parson聽said. "Our direct care and front line staff often make less than entry-level retail positions. These public servants have tough jobs聽and rarely receive the thanks they deserve, and communities all聽across聽the state rely on them everyday."
The recommendation will be included in Governor Parson's Supplemental Budget request to be introduced at the beginning of the 2022 Regular Legislative Session, which begins on January 5, 2022, with the goal of passage before February 1, 2022. These salary adjustments will require General Assembly approval before they can go into effect.聽
Governor Parson has recommended three percent and two percent COLA increases for state employees in past budgets, yet Missouri聽state employees continue聽to be among the lowest paid in the nation. On January聽1, 2022, state employees will receive聽a two percent COLA increase.
If Governor Parson's FY 2022 supplemental聽budget is passed early by the General Assembly, state employees would receive聽an additional 5.5 percent COLA increase on February 1, 2022, along with increases聽for those making under $15 per hour and those affected聽by compression.聽
The FY 22 supplemental聽budget pay plan proposal would cost $91 million, including $52 million in general revenue (GR).聽
Going forward, Governor Parson's FY 23 pay plan proposal includes a similar 5.5 percent COLA recommendation and totals $218 million, including $123 million in GR.
"Veterans home care attendants, residential aids for vulnerable children, and highway workers are among the lowest paid state workers, yet they are critical to maintaining state services and increasing the quality of life for all Missourians,"聽Governor Parson聽said. "These pay increases are necessary for our team members who provide dedicated service to Missourians day in and day out, and we are calling on the General Assembly to help us make these critical investments in our state workforce."
The 5.5 percent COLA increase is based on the average increase of four general structure adjustment聽economic indicators:
- Consumer Price Index for the Midwest聽鈥撀�6.4 percent;
- Employment Cost Index聽鈥撀�4.3 percent;
- World at Work Salary Budget Increases聽鈥撀�2.9 percent; and
- Personal聽Income聽鈥撀�8.3 percent.