Salaries of Virginia's state employees, which have not been increased since 2000, may receive a marginal boost if proposals in both the Virginia House of Delegates and Senate are incorporated into this year's final budget proposal.
According to Joan S. Dent, executive director of the Virginia Governmental Employees' Association, the Senate finance committee's salary proposal calls for a 2 percent increase for most state employees, while the House of Delegates' appropriations committee is proposing a 2.5 percent increase. The association represents 18,000 state employees.
Though both proposals would grant raises to University faculty and staff, only the Senate's proposal would provide raises for K-12 public school teachers.
"It's not much, but it's better than nothing," Dent said.
Even though Virginia's state employee salaries rank 22nd out of 50, they still do not receive the attention they deserve from General Assembly leaders, Dent added.
"Public perception is not close to reality when it comes to state employees and the demands of their jobs," she said.
Senate finance committee member Frederick M. Quayle, R-Prince George, painted a brighter picture of the Commonwealth's dedication to its employees.
"We think very highly of state employees," Quayle said."I am confident that [pay raises] will ultimately come out when the budget process is all over with."
He said dollars for the salary increases would come from a compilation of sources, including increasing some state fees and surpluses in various state agencies' budgets.
Quayle also said he does not foresee a shortage of tax revenue delaying or canceling raises.
"I think the revenue predictions have been very conservative," he said. "Quite frankly, I think we are going to continue to see the economy improve."
Both the Senate and House's complete budget proposals soon will go forward to conference committees, comprised of legislators from both bodies, where an agreement will be reached on a final budget proposal.
Kevin Hall, deputy press secretary for Gov. Mark R. Warner, said the governor is cautiously optimistic about the proposed pay increases, having only recently received house and senate budget proposals.
"He values state employees and would like to give them pay raises," Hall said. "But he has some questions about the underlying revenue projections the House and Senate have used" to finance raises."
A University faculty member currently earning $65,000 a year would receive $66,300 under the Senate's proposal and $66,625 under the House's proposal.
The State Council of Higher Education in Virginia has recommended that University faculty should be paid in the 60th percentile of those institutions in its peer group, but current statistics put the University in the 28th percentile for faculty salaries.
Leonard W. Sandridge, University executive vice president and chief operating officer, said the last time University staff and faculty received raises was in 2000, with increases of 3.25 and 4.6 percent respectively.
Sandridge made clear that pay raises will take priority over filling vacant positions.
"It is critically important that we pay those who serve the University fairly," he said.
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