Nevada lawmakers on both sides of the isle are voicing their opposition to a bill ending longevity pay for state employees. To be eligible, employees must put in eight years of continuous service.
The Assembly Ways and Means Committee has schedule a vote on Assembly Bill 436 for Friday. State Department of Administration chief Jim Wells presented the bill to the committee last month.
Supporters of eliminating longevity pay say it isn’t needed because younger workers are much more likely to switch jobs and less inclined that previous generations to spend their entire career in state government.
The program was placed on the shelf during the recession, but is scheduled to return on July. In Nevada, the program pays $150 a year at eight years of employment and grows up to a maximum of $2,350 annually.
Eliminating longevity pay would save about $6.8 million during the biennium, according to the Nevada Appeal. Governor Brian Sandoval’s proposed budget eliminate furloughs and raises state employee pay by 2.5 percent.
Mike Willden, chief of staff to the governor, told the Nevada Appeal that a survey of state workers found longevity pay ranks low on their list of priorities. Willden told the newspaper that state workers top priorities were a raise in base pay, and health care.
Assemblywoman Robin Titus, R-Carson City