ND Senate looking at state employee pay plan

The State Senate Appropriations Committee has endorsed a pay plan for state employees.

The plan would give state workers two percent per year for each of the next two years.

Democratic Senator Tim Mathern of Fargo proposed a plan for three percent per year raises. He credited state employees for keeping government open during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mathern’s proposal also would also increase the contributions to the state’s retirement plan by two percent – one percent paid by the state, and one percent by the employee. He told the Committee the unfunded liability for the retirement plan is now up to $1.4 billion.

The committee chairman – Grand Forks Republican Senator Ray Holmberg – says there’s still work to be done on spending plans before a final decision can be made on raises. But at least one committee member – Bismarck Republican Senator Dick Dever – said he hopes the discussion isn’t ended, especially on the retirement plan.

North Dakota has around 9,100 state employees on the books.

The language of the pay plan was added to the budget for the Indian Affairs Commission, where it will get a test vote.

NDPPR/KNOX