Missouri Governor Recommends Pay Raises For State Workers

Missouri Governor Mike Parson is recommending an 8.7 percent Cost of Living Adjustment for all state employees and a $2 per hour shift differential to eligible state team members working in specific congregate care facilities.

The recommendation was part of the Early Supplemental Budget request delivered to the General Assembly. The governor also reports he’ll asked to have the legislation introduced as soon as possible with a goal to potentially implement the adjustment by March 1st. Governor Parson defends the wage increase by pointing to 7,000 positions open across the state government. The recommendation will require approval by the Missouri legislature.

Governor Parson says the 8.7 percent COLA increase is based on the increase given to Social Security recipients this year and the Consumer Price Index determined by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The $2 an hour shift differential would be targeted toward congregate care workers at 24/7 state operated programs. Congregate care work is within the Department of Social Services, the Department of Corrections, the Department of Mental Health, and the Missouri Veterans Commission.

The cost for the recommendation would be $152.2 million dollars. $82.4 would be in general revenue.