Guinn to include pay raise for workers

Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2005 | 9:46 a.m.

SUN CAPITAL BUREAU

CARSON CITY -- Gov. Kenny Guinn said Tuesday that he is working to include a cost of living pay raise for the 17,000 state workers in his upcoming budget.

Guinn would not yet talk about the size of the raise. He said that would be one of the many things that will be revealed when he gives his "State of the State" message on Jan. 24.

The State of Nevada Employees Association has requested a 5 percent cost of living increase this July and another 5 percent in July 2006.

The employees received a 2 percent cost of living raise in July 2004.

The state Personnel Division, in its biennial survey, said salaries of state workers lag the Nevada marketplace by an average of 20.6 percent and said the pay of employees has not kept up with the consumer price index.

Comparing state worker salary with the pay of state governments in other western states, Nevada is slightly ahead of the labor market by an average of 0.14 percent, the survey said.

The report shows fringe benefit package of Nevada state employees is slightly ahead of workers in other western states. These benefits include group insurance, retirement, sick days, vacations and holidays.