MS State & Higher Education Employees Could Get Pay Raises

State employees would receive a 3% raise and most public university and community college staff would receive at least a 1% raise under Mississippi lawmaker’s latest budget proposal.

Mississippi lawmakers began voting Sunday on details of a state government spending plan for the year that begins July 1. The budget bills need approval from a majority of the 122 House members and 52 senators. Parts of the budget were being sent back for more work.

Senate Appropriations Chairman Briggs Hopson said the proposed 3% raises for state employees would go into effect by January 1, 2022.

The full year’s cost of the raises is estimated to be around $13.9 million, said Hopson, a Republican from Vicksburg. Half of that — around $6.9 million — would be included in next year’s budget. The rest would be included in the following year’s budget.