Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has announced a new pay plan for state employees, saying the current salary plan is “failing.”
The announcement came at a press conference Tuesday. Sanders says she wants state salary structures to be similar to those in the private sector. She called the state's current pay plan, “broken,” “confusing” and that it “does not reward hard work.”
If it comes to pass, the plan will give two-thirds of employees of cabinet-level agencies raises. This amounts to 14,539 positions. It would also give state employees easier access to promotions.
The raises include pay increases for nurses, police and corrections officers.
The average entry level corrections officer salary is $37,589. The increase should move it over $50,000.
Meanwhile, police officers should see a 19% increase in entry level salaries and a 15% increase in average salaries. Many nurses will receive a raise from 8% to 9%. Sanders hoped this would combat the shortages in these professions.
The governor was joined by Secretary of the Department of Transformation and Shared Services Secretary Leslie Fisken for the announcement.
“The new pay plan will ensure our state employees are competitively compensated for the incredible work they do for the state of Arkansas,” she said.
Fisken says the plan was developed through a $5.5 million contract made in February with the consulting firm McKinsey. The governor says the money will come out of agencies' existing budgets.
Sanders estimated it could cost $102 million in total. The plan still needs legislative approval.
At the same press conference, Gov. Sanders shot down any indication that she would serve in President-elect Donald Trump's Cabinet.
“The only member of the family that will be going to be into the administration is my dad,” she said, referencing her father, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who was tapped Tuesday to serve as ambassador to Israel.
