Hagedorn: Let agency directors decide, don’t guarantee every performing worker a raise

Rep. Shirley Ringo, D-Moscow, suggested a change in wording to note that salary savings could go to retention bonuses as well as merit raises, on top of the 2 percent ongoing raises. Rep. Marv Hagedorn, R-Meridian, who has been protesting all morning that he wanted longer to make these decisions today, proposed a more extensive change: He wants to take out the part about everyone who’s performing getting a 2 percent raise, and instead leave the decision on how to apportion the funds to agency directors. Sen. Dean Mortimer seconded Hagedorn’s motion.

Wayne Hammon, Gov. Butch Otter’s budget chief, told JFAC, “The directors have repeatedly asked, and the Legislature has affirmed, the desirability to give the directors as much flexibility as possible.” He said that’s because so many state employees are far below desired pay levels; granting a 2 percent across-the-board raise “just moves the problem,” he said.

JFAC is now half an hour over its allotted meeting time; both the House and Senate were scheduled to convene at 10:30. Senate Majority Leader Bart Davis, R-Idaho Falls, just showed up and told the co-chairs, “I’m ready to do a call.” A call of the Senate would order all senators to the chamber immediately.