In the final weeks and months of former Gov. Bobby Jindal’s tenure, leading up to his final regular workday on Jan. 8, his office and cabinet heads implemented millions of dollars worth of pay raises for state employees and made nearly two dozen board and commission appointments that were not publicized.
It’s all being unearthed as part of the excavation efforts of Gov. John Bel Edwards’ administration, which officially came to power last week.
The pay raises, in particular, are disturbing to Edwards, according to sources who say the governor also recently instructed his department secretaries and agency directors to report back all related findings as soon as possible. The expenditures are coming to light as staffers and legislators are considering furloughs, among other measures, as a way to handle a $750 million current fiscal year shortfall.
When asked about the pay raises two weeks ago, a spokesman for Jindal’s office did not confirm the salary hikes, but told LaPolitics that the decisions had been left up to each department and agency head, without the consultation of Jindal.
Documents obtained show at least four departments triggered performance adjustments of up to 4%, or at least $19.1 million in new expenditures for the current and next fiscal years. The tally is expected to grow as more raises are uncovered. All of the departments identified so far now have new secretaries or directors that have been appointed by Edwards.
The Department of Transportation and Development saw a 4% merit-based increase in Jindal’s final days. It amounts to $6.5 million this fiscal year and $11.5 million next fiscal year, accounting for attrition and benefits.
The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries allowed all classified and nonappointed unclassified employees who had reached a full year of service by Oct. 1 to receive a 4% prospective increase totaling $1.19 million in new expenses.
The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority actually put in place a 4% retroactive pay raise, but the cost was unknown as of publication time. The Department of Environmental Quality saw increases, too, but at what level is still not known.
This could be a developing story, with at least 78 different agencies and departments that were eligible to receive performance adjustments beginning in December, based on data provided by Civil Service. These are the agencies and departments that did not dole out raises back in October, the first round of eligibility.
On Jan. 8, the Friday before Edwards’ inauguration ceremony, Jindal also signed off on 23 board and commission appointments. He placed former state Sen. Ann Duplessis on the Louisiana Lottery Corporation Board. Jindal had also appointed Duplessis to the LSU Board of Supervisors during his tenure. Lake Charles attorney Thomas Henning was added to the Board of Regents and Nathan Wall of Springfield was placed on the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, among other appointments.
They said it: ”My qualifications for president of the United States are rather narrow. Is he or she Godly? Does he or she love us? Can he or she do the job? And, finally, would they kill a duck and put it in a pot and make them a good duck gumbo?” —Duck Dynasty patriarch Phil Robertson, in a video announcing his endorsement of Ted Cruz
Jeremy Alford publishes LaPolitics Weekly, a newsletter on Louisiana politics, at LaPolitics.com. Follow him on Twitter, or on Facebook. He can be reached at JJA@LaPolitics.com.
