SC legislative initiative would give state workers cost-of-living increase
January 14, 2016
State budget proposal announced today, effort has bipartisan support backed by Senators Courson and Jackson.
Too many state employees can’t afford to live. That was the resounding message at a press conference held today at the SC Statehouse.
The purpose of the event, organized by the S.C. State Employees Association (SCSEA), was to announce a state budget proposal, championed by Senators John Courson (R-Richland) and Darrell Jackson (D-Richland), that would give all state employees a five percent cost-of-living pay increase beginning in fiscal year 2016-17. Several legislators serving on the S.C. Senate Finance Committee, as well as the SCSEA executive committee and board of directors were on hand to announce the effort.
“State employees’ salaries in South Carolina have not kept pace with the rising costs of health care, insurance, food and other necessities. Many of them simply are not being paid a living wage,” said SCSEA Executive Director Carlton Washington.
Washington notes that 75 percent of state employees currently make less than $40,000 per year, not enough to secure a modest standard of living when factoring in housing, child care, transportation, taxes and other necessities. The annual budget for one parent and one child to live a “modest standard” in the Columbia, SC area, for example, based on the Economic Institute Family Budget Calculator is $43,694. More than 26,000 state employees fall below that level. Many of these employees have 12 to15 years of service to the state.
State employees in South Carolina are at the bottom of the barrel when it comes to pay, ranking in the bottom 10 states nationally for average state employee salary, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
“While wages have not been keeping pace with rising costs, state workers have had to pay more for retirement, health insurance premiums, and federal taxes, while also facing layoffs and furloughs. Many are working for less now than when they first started,” Washington said. He cites as an example the position of probation and parole officer in South Carolina, a critical job that requires a college degree. “Being a parole officer starts at around $26,000 per year. With that salary, there is no way to pay any school loans and support a family.”
Senator Jackson, a primary supporter of the budget proposal, said state agencies face difficulties retaining employees because workers can earn dramatically more in the private sector or with county or municipal governments.
“With the current pay structure, it’s very difficult to retain quality employees in state government. Many workers are leaving for private-sector jobs, where they can make about 15 percent more to support their families,” Jackson said. “The state needs to start paying public employees more competitive salaries.”
Senator Courson, who has spearheaded the budget proposal and spoke at today’s event, said that during the economic downturn and as part of legislative efforts to streamline government, state employees across all sectors were asked to do more with less. He said he often hears of state employees taking on the jobs of three or four former colleagues with no pay increase.
This challenge is additionally complicated by South Carolina’s remarkable population growth. South Carolina is the nation’s 10th-fastest-growing state, increasing in population from 3.5 million in 1995 to just less than 5 million currently. Compared to 1995, South Carolina has more than 10,000 fewer state employees today.
“This year, as $1.2 billion in additional revenue is projected in our state, it’s time to fairly compensate our state employees for meeting the challenge of doing more with less,” Courson said.
Senators Courson and Jackson are members of the Senate Finance Committee. At today’s press conference, they announced plans to include the across-the-board pay increase for S.C. employees in the 2016-17 state budget. If the measure passes the Senate Finance Committee, it would move to the full Senate for debate. Washington said that he believes the House of Representatives members are interested in treating state employees fairly as well.
“South Carolina’s employees are essential to our continued health and economic vitality as a state. The only way to attract and retain a quality workforce is by paying a living wage, so state employees can afford to support their families,” said Washington. “In this season of economic growth, I would encourage our elected officials to examine what we need to do to maintain qualified, skilled state employees and to support this effort to give state workers a cost-of-living increase.”
About the SCSEA
The South Carolina State Employees Association (SCSEA) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization established to advance the welfare of state employees and retirees and to promote efficiency in the administration of the business affairs and public services of state government. For more information, please visit www.scsea.com.
