This week the Senate passed its version of the state budget, and it contained some glimpses of hope for state employees and retirees.
Two weeks ago the House passed a budget that did not give state employees a real pay raise. Instead, it proposed a one-time bonus of $250 and five additional days of vacation time.
The House budget shut retirees out altogether, offering no cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), despite the fact that there is $62 million in gains already in the system. This means the General Assembly would not have to pay for the COLA out of general fund money.
SEANC was very vocal on behalf of our members that the actions of the House were breaking promises to state employees and retirees.
Last year's budget contained $121.1 million to be used this year for salary increases. It also set the employer contribution at levels that would sustain a retiree COLA.
The Senate budget shows an awareness of those promises. Even though it is less than what SEANC asked for and less than what we want to see in the final budget, the Senate budget gives a 1.2 percent base pay raise to active state employees (a real raise rather than a one-time bonus) and a 1 percent COLA to retirees.
The Senate budget passed yesterday and the House immediately voted not to accept the Senate’s version of the budget as the final budget. This means that conferees from each chamber will now meet to hammer out the details of a final budget. Conferees are legislators who are appointed by each body of the General Assembly, tasked with negotiating differences between each version of the budget and ultimately reaching consensus for a final budget.

House conferees:
Rep. Harold Brubaker
Harold.Brubaker@ncleg.net
919-715-4946

Rep. Jim Crawford
Jim.Crawford@ncleg.net
919-733-5824

Rep. Nelson Dollar
Nelson.Dollar@ncleg.net
919-715-0795

Rep. Mitch Gillespie
Mitch.Gillespie@ncleg.net
919-733-5862

Rep. Linda Johnson
Linda.Johnson2@ncleg.net
919-733-5861

Rep. David Lewis
David.Lewis@ncleg.net
919-715-3015

Senate conferees:
Sen. Harry Brown
Harry.Brown@ncleg.net
919-715-3034

Sen. Peter S. Brunstetter
Peter.Brunstetter@ncleg.net
919-733-7850

Sen. Bob Rucho
Bob.Rucho@ncleg.net
919-733-5655

Sen. Richard Stevens
Richard.Stevens@ncleg.net
919-733-5653

Please email or call these members as soon as possible. You can also reach them at 919-733-4111. Let them know that they need to keep their promise.
Tell the House conferees that the Senate budget pay raise is a real pay raise, and that a one-time bonus doesn't help pay monthly bills. Also tell the House that the five vacation days they proposed needs to stay in the final budget, along with the recurring pay raise.
It’s nearing the end game in the budget process. Now is the time to call Raleigh! Tell your legislator that you are contacting them to request:
• 1.2% or more pay raise for active state employees (as proposed in the Senate budget)
• 1% or more cost-of-living adjustment for state retirees (as proposed in the Senate budget)
• 5 additional days of paid leave for active state employees (as proposed in the House budget)
As always, SEANC lobbying staff will be there for you day and night to achieve the best outcome possible but your calls and emails make a difference. If legislators don’t hear from you now, they will assume that state employees and retirees don’t care what is in the budget and we all know that is not true.6-15-12.pdf
ACT TODAY!