The Civil Service Commission is talking about whether to suspend annual pay raises for 56,000 rank-and-file government workers next year. The commission plans to discuss the matter today after delaying action a month earlier. Gov. Bobby Jindal has asked that the 4% pay raises, called “merit pay,” be barred in the upcoming fiscal year that begins July 1. The governor says the raises are inappropriate with the state facing a hefty $1.6 billion shortfall next year. If approved by the commission, it would be the second year of pay freezes. The Jindal administration estimates it could save the state $55 million next year. Jindal says he’ll stop pay hikes next year for political appointees that are under his control and not under the oversight of the Civil Service Commission.
Today’s poll question: Should the state Civil Service Commission suspend annual pay raises for state government workers?
