But thats not the only upside for state employees in the Governors proposed spending plan for the 2022-2023 fiscal year. State retirement says the subsidy exclusion is only given to the person who has the insurance deducted from their benefit. Under the budget agreement, the money must be held in reserve until Jan. 1, 2023, halfway through the fiscal year. 2013-14 Broadband Pay Bands [Effective 7-1-13] (36.00 KB) 2013-14 General Pay Increase Instructions for October 1, 2013 (22.99 KB) 2013-14 Instructions for July 1, 2013 Special Pay Adjustment for Law Enforcement Employees (25.28 KB) 2013-14 Lump Sum Bonus - Additional Information (977.11 KB) 2013-14 Lump Sum Bonus Plan Template (54.00 KB) This effort takes a lot of resources to gather and update. All state workers will see across-the-board 5.38 percent pay raises. With the 2022 legislative session coming to an end, lawmakers still haven't come to an agreement on pay hikes for state workers and certain health care and school personnel. The Legislature, following a request from DeSantis, created a one-month gas tax suspension in the budget for October, which will lower the price of gas by about 25 cents a gallon. Senate President Simpson prioritized more than $706 million in funding for a new Moffitt Cancer Center campus and related infrastructure in Pasco County. St. Petersburg, Florida 33704. DeSantis currently uses a $15.5 million Cessna Citation Latitude jet, bought in 2019 after he took office, succeeding former Gov. The budget includes that money, as well as $2 million for long-acting, reversible birth control for low-income women another Simpson priority. endobj AFSCME, the labor union representing state workers, said it "appreciates" the state recognizes there's been "years of undervaluing" workers. <> x]moH i0lv7_Ao;I}`dA_SMR%[vcK^~z6^|m$YUmsz[RW'?>I*(s?2'hO2.'=D*&Mg&z%6+3g>}}dqb. ATallahassee initiative that provides scholarships to acquire GEDs, high school diplomas and to attend college or technical and vocational schools. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, wants an average 4% pay increase for state workers plus additional raises for corrections and law enforcement officers. Lawmakers cut the bulk of a $309 million fund for hospitals that serve the states poorest and sickest Medicaid patients. Though the longtime lobbyist was quick to add that the pay raise "is huge" for the region. To ensure that Texas is able to provide high quality services to its citizens, the legislature needs to appropriate a real across-the-board pay raise for state employees and university workers. At an overall average of 19.3% across state agencies, Texas agencies are at the breaking point. Governor Ron DeSantis Appoints Four to the Florida Greenways and Trails Council, Governor Ron DeSantis Receives Two Bills from the Florida Legislature, Governor Ron DeSantis Announces Pay Raises for Florida Teachers. ", PublishedJanuary 20, 2022 at 5:00 AM EST. Bringing home the bacon: What Leon legislative delegation got into 2022-23 state budget, Leon lawmakers' 2022 session agenda: Work, new jobs, aid to North Florida counties. Statutes, Video Broadcast But we also need to get at the root, which are the high costs that make health care so expensive for everyone. Then there is the Catch 22 for the Health Insurance Subsidy Tax Exclusion. increases, based on specific criteria outlined in the GAA, outside of the 5.38% pay increase, $15 minimum wage and sworn law enforcement officers' pay increase. However, the 6.2% that you pay only applies to income up to the Social Security tax cap, which for 2022 is $147,000 ($160,200 for 2023). No state workers will make less than $15 per hour. May 6, 2022 Updated May 7, 2022 0 As part of House Bill 1, also known as the executive branch budget, state employees will receive an 8% across-the-board raise in the next fiscal year.. An Edward R. Murrow Award-winning series explores the high costs of the pandemic for children and young adults. House Democrats on Thursday were quick to criticize the new budget, saying it did not adequately help Floridians with rising housing costs and noted that the budget is padded with federal funds from the Biden administration. Important Notes: Please contact Shelley Lopez at (850) 644-6602 or s.lopez@fsu.edu. That would bring the program from one that was not funded at all this year to one of the largest land-buying programs in the state. STAFF LOGIN, Gov. Not sure how much this has penalized us. Included in the budgets many provisions is a 5.38% raise for all state employees, increases in teacher salaries and funding to boost the minimum wage for state workers to $15. This message has been approved by Renisha Gibbs, Associate Vice President for Human Resources and Finance & Administration Chief of Staff, for distribution to all Deans, Directors, and Department Heads. FICA contributions are shared between the employee and the employer. They apparently succeeded Tuesday,but still unclear in negotiations was whether teachers and staff in these districts would be eligible for the new school recognition awards. The journals or printed bills of the respective chambers should be consulted for official purposes. Please see the attached memorandum regarding the 2022-2023 Salary Increase and Minimum Wage Pay Adjustment for In-Unit & Out-of-Unit Staff. If you havent already subscribed, please consider buying a print or digital subscription. But employees here have to shoulder a greater burden. Its unfortunate that despite having record cash to work with, we couldnt do more for Floridians struggling with a housing crisis and global inflation, said Rep. Fentrice Driskell, the incoming leader of the House Democrats. Lawmakers directed an additional $1 billion towards salaries andincrease the pay to state workers, first responders, corrections officers and teachers. The increases in teacher pay will provide critical help to teachers in Florida during a critical time where inflation is rising rapidly across the country: What is nice about this for teachers is that you made a commitment for our teachers that you would raise base pay to sustain a living, said Christopher Glinton, Principal, Renaissance Charter School at Wellington. Some lawmakers say yes. According to an FY 2018 State Auditors Report, overall turnover in state agencies is now higher than it has been since at least 1990, when the SAO began tracking turnover. In 2010, Floridians spent 10% of their median income on health insurance premiums and deductibles. Simpson made the $15 minimum wage a priority this legislative session. Jim Justice has proposed 5% pay raises for state employees and public school teachers. ~ Third year in a row for increases in teacher pay ~. The spending targets a host of practical problems, lawmakers say, including inflation. I called People First to ask why his subsidy was not excluded and they said it was because no payment for health insurance was taken out of his monthly pension check. Even though his Retiree annual statement says that the HIS benefit is not a part of his Florida Retirement System pension, it is counted as such on his 1099. In fact, 71% of those who quit the state in 2018 said they were going to a higher paying job, with 30% saying they would be making more than $10,000/year more than they were making with the state. Ron DeSantis proposed nearly $100 billion spending plan would provide an average 4% pay increase for state employees and ensure their health insurance benefits remain the same through 2023. High deductible plans have lower monthly premiums, but employees are required to pay more out of pocket costs for their health care. The governor had originally asked for a five-month suspension of the state gas tax. James Call is a member of the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida Capital Bureau. Florida lawmakers have passed a $112.1 billion state budget containing pay raises for state workers and a gas tax suspension, striking a bipartisan agreement that closed a session. State Law Enforcement Officers/Troopers - Increase minimum salary to $50,000 or an additional 5 percent pay increase, whichever is greater Correctional and Probation Officers - Increase minimum salary to $41,600 ($20 per hour) and other position classifications ranging from $45,760 to $57,886 The Gadsden EOC and Sheriffs office is currently housed in a 30-year-old building that does not meet hurricane building codes and lacks space to house all agencies needed during an emergency. Lawmakers proposal for school spending is one of the largest ever, and the Florida Education Association, which represents teachers, called it a real step forward. Prosecutors and public defenders will see raises between $5,000 and $10,000. All rights reserved. Instead, a proposal that looked close to being accepted by the two sides would put the $200 million into a school recognition program that wouldreward faculty and staff in "highly productive" schools that excelled even amid the challenges of the pandemic. Its video library also archives coverage for later viewing. Committee The state included nearly $85 million in extra funding for certain childrens hospitals such as Johns Hopkins All Childrens in St. Petersburg. Simpson, the Senate president, is running for the post of Agriculture Commissioner later this year and the spending provision sought by his chamber would not takeeffect until January 2023, when he could potentially be in charge of the department. He is on my State Retirement health insurance plan. Just as in state agencies, adequate salaries are needed to recruit and retain qualified staff to meet the educational needs of our state. By this initiative happening, it is not about having a salary, it is about can a teacher pay their light bill, can a teacher pay their water bill, can a teacher give a kid who doesnt have food at home an extra snack, or an extra bag of chips to put in their backpack and not at the expense of their own home., I dont think people always understand the countless hours we put into our work, said Loren Temes, 2nd Grade Teacher, Renaissance Charter School at Wellington. Florida State We highlight the stories of Black Floridians seeking emotional healing and wellness. Another $400 million is going to support rural broadband initiatives. It was the first such pay bump in 12 years for Florida's state workers, . DeSantis budget also allocates $75.4 million to increase the base rate of more than 4,500 sworn law enforcement officers, $124.2 million to increase the base rate pay for correctional probation officers and inspectors who work for the Department of Corrections, and another $15.9 million to the department to implement an employee retention plan. This will help Florida to recruit and retain great teachers., Governor DeSantis is unquestionably the most pro-teacher governor in the nation. Search Gov. The cost of groceries rose 8.5 percent over the past year. If approved by the Governor, these provisions take effect July 1, 2022, except where otherwise expressly provided. The current agriculture commissioner, Democrat Nikki Fried, is running to challenge DeSantis for governor. Too many workers are leaving for more rewarding employment elsewhere and the state is unable to maintain adequate staffing levels.. In another dramatic move, lawmakers dropped aHouse-backed $200 million redistribution of funds from 12 counties that defied Gov. With more money spent on insurance theres less room for workers to spend on other necessities, Collins said. The project was Leon Countys top request for the session. AMIkids provides Gadsden County youth with mental health, substance abuse, mentoring, and vocational training services as a juvenile diversion program. State employees are the driving force behind critical services to all Texans especially to some of the most vulnerable. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing. Katrine Bruner is the WUSF Rush Family/Health News Florida intern for spring 2022. Direct support professionals who work in State Supported Living Centers / State Hospitals have a turnover rate of 53.5%. What were doing in the budget is making sure that were meeting the obligations, making sure were funding key priorities but also, protecting the state against what very well may be a Biden-induced recession, said DeSantis, who is running for reelection and is considered a potential frontrunner for a 2024 GOP presidential bid. 2022-2023 Staff Pay Increase Memo (PDF) Article Date August 4, 2022 Office of Human Resources 282 Champions Way Annual salary includes applicable employee pay additives (i.e., competitive area differential, trainer, hazardous duty, temporary special duty, legislative approved, critical market pay, and leadworker), but does not include overtime or other incentive payments. Im excited for Floridas teachers and am grateful for Governor DeSantis vision and his relentless pursuit to improve the teaching profession.. Ron DeSantis released his $99.7 billion proposed budget for the 2022-23 fiscal year ahead of the 2022 legislative session set to begin tomorrow, Jan 11. Prison Construction - Two New Facilities: One 250 bed hospital facility - $200 million, Offender Based Information System (OBIS) replacement - $10.2 million, Statewide Prosecutor Workload - $1.8 million and 12 positions, Solicitor General Workload - $1.7 million and 10 positions, Election Crimes Investigations - $1.5 million and 10 positions, Cyberfraud Analysis and Education - $0.5 million and 6 positions, Increase DJJ Provider Pay to Minimum Wage - $5.3 million, Salary Increases for Deputy Sheriffs and County Correctional Officers in Fiscally Constrained Counties - $15.0 million, Appellate Court Operational Increases - $9.7 million and 62 positions, Construction of one 4,500 Bed Prison - $650.0 million, Construction of one 250 Bed Prison Hospital - $200.0 million, Price Level Increase for Correctional Officers in Private Prisons - $33.9 million, Offender Based Information System (OBIS) Replacement - $10.2 million, Information Technology Infrastructure Improvements - $5.1 million, Critical Security Equipment - $3.0 million, Statewide Recruitment Staffing - $1.9 million and 12 positions, Critical Legal Positions - $1.2 million and 13 positions, Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) Program Compliance - $1.2 million and 11 positions, Pensacola Regional Operations Center Facility - $6.3 million, Sexual Assault Kit Tracking System - $0.9 million and 2 positions, Increase Federal Grants Trust Fund Authority - COPS Anti-Methamphetamine Program (CAMP) Grant - $0.8 million, Criminal Justice Data Technical Assistance Grant - $5.0 million, Biometric Identification Solution (BIS) Modernization - $3.5 million, Criminal Justice Data Transparency - $3.0 million, Statewide Behavioral Threat Assessment Management Strategy - $1.3 million and 3 positions, Increase Provider Pay to Minimum Wage - $5.3 million, Expansion of Vocational and Educational Services - $3.7 million, Continuation and Expansion of Prevention and Early Intervention Programs - $1.6 million, Electronic Monitoring Enhancements - $1.0 million, Establishment of an Electronic Health Record - $0.7 million and 3 positions, Child Representation Pilot Program - $2.4 million and 3 positions, Staffing Support for the Justice Administrative Commission - $0.5 million and 4 positions, Clerks of Court Pandemic Recovery Plan - $6.3 million, Guardian ad Litem Trust Fund Authority - $4.4 million and 67.5 positions, State Attorney and Public Defender Motor Vehicle Replacement - $2.5 million, Appellate Case Management Solution - $4.5 million, Maintain Early Childhood Courts - $1.0 million and 9 positions, Trial Courts Pandemic Recovery Plan - $10.0 million, Support for Post-Pandemic Proceedings - $1.9 million, Supreme Court Fellows Program - $0.6 million, Transportation Work Program - $11.6 billion, Affordable Housing Programs - $362.7 million, Library, Cultural, and Historical Grants, Initiatives, and Facilities - $175.3 million, Urban Search and Rescue Teams Training and Equipment Grants - $10 million, Florida National Guard Tuition Assistance - $5.2 million, Reemployment Assistance Program Operations and Tax Services Provider - $33.4 million, State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) - $209.5 million (allocated to local governments), Affordable Housing Programs - $153.3 million, including the State Apartment Incentive Loan (SAIL) and $100 million for a Florida Hometown Hero Housing Program, Noncustodial Parent Employment Program - $7.0 million, Law Enforcement Recruitment Bonus Program - $20 million, First Responders Recognition Payments - $125 million SFRF, Broadband Opportunity Grant Program - $400 million SFRF, Consumer-First Workforce Information System - $150 million SFRF, Rural Infrastructure Fund - $30 million ($25 million SFRF), Economic Development Projects - $6.0 million, Housing and Community Development Projects - $107.9 million, Florida Highway Patrol Taser Replacement - $1.5 million, Florida Highway Patrol Academy Driving Track - $10 million, Increased Authority for Work Zone Traffic Enforcement - $5.8 million, Additional Commercial Driver License Third Party Testing - $570,119; 6.0 positions, Motorist Modernization Project - Phase II - $10 million, Florida National Guard Tuition Assistance - $5.2 million for FYs 2021-2022 and 2022-2023, Florida State Guard - $10 million; 6.0 positions, New Counterdrug Program Headquarters Building - $2.2 million, Libraries Maintenance of Effort - $23.9 million; and Additional Aid - $2 million, Cultural and Museum Programs and Initiatives - $73.2 million, General Program Support Grants - $46.0 million (fully funds all 556 projects), Culture Builds Florida Ranked List - $3.1 million (funds all 131 projects), Cultural Facilities Grants Ranked List - $10 million SFRF (funds 24 projects), Cultural and Museum Projects - $14.1 million, Historical Preservation Programs and Initiatives - $31.1 million, Historic Preservation Small Matching Grants Ranked List - $1.6million (funds all58projects), Historic Preservation Special Category Ranked List - $21.5 million (funds all 77 projects), Historic Preservation Projects - $9.4 million, African-American Cultural and Historical Grants Ranked List - $30.3 million (SFRF). "Our members came to the bargaining table to eloquently and passionately talk . Floridas health insurance deductibles or the amount an employee has to pay before the insurance kicks in averaged $2,147, placing it among the 14th highest in the nation. Brandes, now chair of the Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee, wants to steer more state employees into high deductible health plans. Jared Moskowitz, Jamie Raskin blast Lauren Boebert over COVID-19 amnesia. 2 0 obj Bills are debated, approved or disapproved by State lawmakers. "There really are no more important issues than food and jobs so thats disappointing.. WUSF Public Media - WUSF 89.7 | Theyre also spending federal money on arts and culture: $30.3 million for African American cultural historical grants, $13.8 million to build a state artifact facility and $10 million for cultural facilities grants. Contributors & reporters: Phil Ammann, Roseanne Dunkelberger, A.G. Gancarski, Anne Geggis, Kelly Hayes, Ryan Nicol, Jacob Ogles, Gray Rohrer, Jesse Scheckner, Christine Sexton, Andrew Wilson, Wes Wolfe, and Mike Wright. I am constantly thinking of things to help teach them and it is nice to be appreciated and be respected., There is a nationwide teacher shortage, as fewer students enter the college of education programs with the goal of becoming an educator, said David Broskie, Superintendent, School District of Clay County. But it also addresses critical worker shortages. State agency and university employees need a REAL pay raise! On the health care side, Florida leaders once again turned down billions in federal subsidies that the state could have used to expand Medicaid to hundreds of thousands of working poor Floridians. More than a half dozen local projects, however, did get approvedalong with the pay raise for state workers, soAusley said overall, This is a great budget for North Florida. The project will restore wildlife habitat, rehydrate wetlands, and improve discharge into the Floridan Aquifer and directly benefit the Wakulla Springs. The other two aircraft would be available to the lieutenant governor, Cabinet members, Supreme Court justices, the House Speaker, Senate president and chairs of legislative committees and agency officials. That money is in addition to another $12 million in local funding requests, along with $80 million for construction of a new state Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee. . Address: 204 37th Avenue North #182 The total cost of the plan is $1 . The average pay for the 97,000 workers in. DeSantis' veto list, Thats kind of crushing. The teamwork and collaboration between the Governors team and our district leaders has been incredible and I am so grateful for that. Florida Gov. The other half is meant to boost the pay for veteran educators who already make above the base salary. While pay raises look settled, Trumbull and Stargel held a later Tuesday meeting to address dozens of other spending issues. About 9 p.m.Tuesday, Trumbull and Stargel sent a memo to fellow lawmakersacknowledging that they wouldn't make a midnight deadline in time fora constitutionally required 72-hour waiting period before lawmakerscanvote on the budget by Friday'slast scheduled day of the 2022 session. Employees of the Florida Department of Management Services are granted the same holiday schedule as all state of . Local projects funded in the 2022 2023 state budget: Tallahassee Lighthouse at-risk mentorship program: $250,000, Leon County Sheriff Office Behavioral Health Program:$250,000, Tallahassee TEMPOWorkforce Training program:$500,000, Gadsden County Emergency Operation Center:$10 million, the $109 billion state budget Gov. Search Gov. This is a budget that will serve our state for generations to come, Senate President Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, said in a statement. Lawmakers agreed to spend $24.3 billion for K-12 education, including $250 million to boost pay for teachers. Want more of our free, weekly newslettersinyourinbox? The 5.3% pay raise and $15 minimum wage starting July 1 will boost the area's payroll by at least an additional $40 million annually. Spoiler alert: Trouble ensued, DeSantis says he will approve teacher pay increases as part of Florida's budget, A 15-week abortion ban is set for its first hearing in the Florida Senate, Florida gets another bump in tax revenues, to the tune of $442.2 million, State Wants To Expedite Piney Point's Closure As Summer Rains Threaten, Adrienne Kennedy akennedy@wlrn.org (305)-995-2256, FRIENDS OF WLRN, INC. AS MEDIA MANAGER OF WLRN PUBLIC MEDIA. state_bargaining_team.png. Local lawmakers, lobbyists and labor leaders said the $109 billion state budget Gov. "/> DeSantis includes pay raises, health insurance premium protections in $100B budget, Gov. Ultimately, Gov. Florida lawmakers agreed to the pay raises on Wednesday as they finalized negotiations on a more than $100 billion state budget. Prepared by: While the university systems claim that university employees have received similar raises via merit raise and pay for performance schemes, the reality is that most university employees pay has been frozen or has increased only by tiny amounts since 2003. C) Pay raises for PBA's state bargaining unit members are completed. DeSantis had called for pouring about $355 million into construction, home-buying and rent relief efforts. The. Ten years ago, Floridas workers paid $5,205 or 11% of the states median income. And then median income in Florida is lower than the national average, actually significantly lower. House budget chair Jay Trumbull, R-Panama City, and his Senate counterpart, Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland, agreed to the pay raise before getting bogged down amida host of big ticket items still unsettled across a proposed budget topping $100 billion for only the second time in state history. The budget deal uses $800 million in federal funding for environmental spending, including $300 million to allow the Department of Agriculture to expand the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. Sign up for our newsletter: Get Capitol Buzz, a special bonus edition of The Buzz with Emily L. Mahoney, each Saturday while the Legislature is meeting. Ron DeSantis signed Thursday isa qualified success for Tallahassee and Leon County. The Law Enforcement (LEO) payscale is the federal government payscale used to determine the salaries of over 70% of federal civilian employees. Political editor Emily L. Mahoney will send you a rundown on local, state and national politics coverage every Thursday. And the cost of living continues to rise! Publications, Help Searching DeSantis on masks, Florida school districts rebel against governor's mask order, presenting political test, Helped by federal aid, Gov. But not many state employees enroll in high deductible plans. The Legislature is set to approve the budget, and end its legislative session, on Monday. James Call in the Tallahassee Democrat reports on the "historic" raises in the state budget, thanks to AFSCME advocacy and member activism. Questions? He has challenged us to elevate and celebrate the teaching profession by listening to the needs of teachers, said Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran. State employees havent had an increase in their health insurance premiums in more than 15 years. With a constitutional amendment approved by voters in 2020 pushing the states minimum wage for all workers to $15-an-hour in 2026, Florida lawmakers now appear to be getting out slightly ahead of this shift. State attorneys, public defenders and DCA Judges will all receive 10% pay increases, and $59 million is set aside for the . Now, its over 16%. Momentum was strong for AFSCME's Cultural Workers United Campaign in 2022. Thecelebration over a historic 5.3% across-the-board pay raise for state employees and a new $15 minimum wage for state workers was partlyovershadowed Friday morning by the vetoes of $1 million earmarked to the Second Harvest of the Big Bend and a $50,000 appropriation for the Leon Works Expo and Junior Apprenticeship Program. Why is diversity the hot issue in Florida higher education? This situation is getting even more difficult for teachers across the nation with rising inflation. Ron DeSantis on Thursday signed a $109.9 billion state budget bill that includes pay raises for state workers and law enforcement, as well as tax suspensions on gas, diapers and school supplies. It requested the money to purchase laptopsand tablets, literacy materials and to pay for workshops and college tours. . Copyright 2000- 2023 State of Florida. High deductible plans also are accompanied by tax-free health savings accounts. For maybe the first time in Floridas history, we have a Governor and administration that goes above and beyond to recognize and empower educators by listening and giving us a voice., Executive Office of Governor Ron DeSantis. Tristan Wood graduated from the University of Florida in 2021 with a degree in Journalism. So it's really a perfect storm for high cost burdens..