Legislative budget writers approve state employee pay raises

DOVER (AP) — Legislative budget writers have voted unanimously to spend more than $20 million to give state government workers a pay raise.

Members of the Joint Finance Committee voted Thursday to give most state employees a pay raise of 1.5 percent or $750, whichever is greater. Gov. Jack Markell in his budget proposal had recommended a smaller raise of 1 percent, or $500.

The panel also voted to approve pay hikes for employees of the University of Delaware, Delaware State University and Delaware Technical and Community College.

The raises would take effect in October.

The employee pay raises were among the final spending items the panel considered in wrapping up work on a $4 billion operating budget for the fiscal year starting July 1.