The Kansas House Appropriations Committee has rejected giving pay raises to most state employees. Democratic Rep. John Alcala proposed the raises as part of a budget plan because some state employees haven’t had a pay increase for nearly 10 years.
The chairman of the committee, Republican Troy Waymaster, said with lawmakers facing a budget deficit, there simply isn’t enough money.
“We would like to do something for state employees. Is this the right time? In my opinion, no it’s not,” Waymaster says.
The committee rejected the across-the-board raises 7-14. The House budget plan does include raises for court employees.
A Senate committee has added 2 percent raises for most state workers to its budget plan.
