Sebelius Signs Bill to Begin Bringing Wages up to Market Value

Press Release

Sebelius signs bill to begin bringing wages up to market value

Employees currently earning less than counterparts in other states

Today, joined by a crowd of public employees, Governor Kathleen Sebelius signed legislation to begin bringing state employee salaries up to market value.

"Many state employees are earning 45 percent less than similar jobs in other states," Sebelius said. "This makes it hard to attract and retain quality workers to serve the people of Kansas."

For the past year, a bi-partisan group of legislators, officials from the Department of Administration and representatives of employee groups, including the Kansas Organization of State Employees, have worked to transform the way Kansas compensates its state employees.

The result is S. Sub for HB 2916, a new pay plan based on successful ideas from the private sector. Over the next five years, the new plan will bring more than 7,500 state employees' wages up to market value and include a 2.5 percent cost-of-living raise for all state employees.

Because every taxpayer dollar spent should be spent wisely, the state employee pay plan oversight committee will monitor and evaluate this effort with annual salary surveys - ensuring goals are met, and met on time.

"Thank you to those Kansans who wake up each day ready to serve their community by serving our state. You help make Kansas a better place to live, work and raise a family," Sebelius concluded.

This bill will go into effect after its publication in the Kansas Register. Governor Sebelius has signed 158 bills during the 2008 Legislative Session and vetoed three.

Earlier today the Governor signed a memorandum of understanding with the Kansas Organization of State Employees. This is the first MOU negotiated and signed under the new realignment of State employee bargaining units.

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