The state workforce would drop by more than 3,600 positions, a 3.1 percent decrease, under the budget proposed Thursday by Gov. Rick Scott. But for the remaining workers there was potential good news: a bonus.
The governor’s proposal earmarks $167 million for state employees who have received at least a satisfactory evaluation to get a bonus of $1,200.
Scott’s proposal also includes a merit pay award for state workers – allowing agencies to give employees who get better evaluations bonuses of up to $5,000 to up to 35 percent of their employees.
“You have to look at state workers and thank them,” Scott said. “I want to reward the most effective employees, no different than what I did when I was in business,” Scott said.
A bill (HB 289) filed in the House by Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda, D-Tallahassee, would give state employees a 7 percent raise.
Vasilinda said the governor’s proposal was a good start, but not as good as a raise, which state workers haven’t had in years.
“The reality is the bonus proposal would still leave Florida’s state workforce seriously underpaid and perhaps dangerously overburdened,” she said. “We must remember it is our state workforce that ensures that all Floridians are safe from crime, warned of and helped through natural disasters, have safe and plentiful water to drink, safe roads to travel, healthy food to eat, and are protected from abuse.”
