In all, 3,221 state employees will get an average 4.2 percent salary increase, according to the announcement of the raise. Approximately 1,200 nurses and 600 law enforcement employees will receive increases up to 4 percent while the remainder of employees will receive varying increases of up to 10 percent.

 

Authorization for the raises is contained in the budget bill passed last year. 

 

Approximately $7.5 million was allocated to address market conditions, job responsibility changes and pay equity. The state’s universities did not receive monies from this salary adjustment because these institutions have access to other funding resources, the statement said. 

 

The pay hike will bring salaries for some jobs up to par with those paid in the private sector. The majority of the funds -- 73 percent -- are in this category.

 

Job change monies will be used for employees who assumed greater job responsibilities but have not been compensated because of a salary freeze. Nearly one quarter of the allocated funds will be used in this category -- 24 percent.

 

Two percent of the funds will be used to lessen the wage dis