More than 100,000 Florida state employees could get a pay raise, if a bill becomes law. Florida’s employees are paid far less, on average, than people who work for other states.
Rep. Dwayne Taylor (D-Daytona Beach) filed the bill this week. He wants to give a 2 percent raise to people in all state jobs. They include people who work in courts, at the DMV, for universities and the Legislature.
Taylor said, 2 percent is a modest start—he wishes it were a 20 percent raise.
“I just want to make sure that they know, from me, that they are greatly appreciated,” Taylor said.
The last time state workers got a pay raise was in 2006. Compared with other states, Florida has the lowest payroll cost and the fewest government employees per state resident, according to the state Department of Management Services.
No companion bill has been filed yet in the Senate.
In the interest of full disclosure, employees of public media stations affiliated with universities would be eligible for pay raises if the measure passes. That includes WFSU.