New round of pay raises funded by state board

The Nevada Board of Examiners Thursday approved $21.5 million to cover the cost of pay raises and step increases for state workers.

The majority of the money - $15.5 million - will go to workers in the state prison system.

The 2 percent cost-of-living-adjustment raises were approved by the 2005 Legislature and Gov. Kenny Guinn. They took effect July 1. But agencies were instructed to pay as much of the cost as possible from salary savings and other funds available within their existing budgets before requesting money from the board.

Of the total, $18.5 million covered the cost of the 2 percent COLA and $3.1 million the cost of the 10th-grade step created for classified workers.

The first round of appropriations to pay for the 2 percent raises came before the board last month. Director of Administration Andrew Clinger said the request for funding to cover university system classified pay raises will be considered at the next board meeting.

Another round of cost-of-living raises will take effect in fiscal 2007. There is about $37.3 million in the budget to cover these 4 percent increases for state classified workers.