Three motions on the table in JFAC for state employee raises…

Sen. Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint, moved for 2 percent, ongoing merit raises for state employees as outlined by the committee’s co-chairs; Rep. Darrell Bolz seconded the motion. Sen. Dean Mortimer then moved for 2 percent one-time bonuses instead; the Legislature hasn’t approved raises for state employees for four years.

“They’ve worked hard, they’ve worked hard for less, they deserve this money,” Mortimer said. “But I still am very concerned about where our economy is going. … I don’t want to come back and have to take it back.” Rep. John Vander Woude seconded Mortimer’s motion.

Keough, arguing for her motion, said, “I do believe that we have some serious issues across our employee workforce that we need to address. … I recognize for many 2 percent is not going to be seen as much, however I do think it’s in balance with the economic times that we continue to struggle through, and it does I believe give a signal that we do understand the service our employees provide for us and that we know that there are services the public expects the government to provide, and they expect folks to be there to do that.”

Rep. Wendy Jaquet, D-Ketchum, then made an amended substitute motion for ongoing 3 percent merit raises; like the others, hers wouldn’t cover teachers eligible for performance-pay bonuses. “I just think that 2 percent is too little given the circumstances that our employees are in with no raises for four years,” Jaquet said.