JFAC approves 2% ongoing raises for state employees for next year

JFAC has voted to fund merit-based raises for state employees next year at just 2 percent, but to make that ongoing raises, rather than one-time bonuses.

First, Rep. Wendy Jaquet’s motion for ongoing 3 percent merit raises was defeated on a 4-16 party-line vote. Then, Sen. Dean Mortimer’s motion for just 2 percent one-time bonuses failed on a 1-19 vote, with only Mortimer voting in favor - even Rep. John Vander Woude voted against the motion, though he’d seconded it. Informed that he had to vote consistent with his second but could then change his vote, Vander Woude, after some struggling and some laughter, changed his vote to yes, then back to no.

Then, the original motion from Sen. Shawn Keough passed on a 16-4 party-line vote.