Afternoon folks! We’re posted up in the Governor’s conference room. She’s expected to be making an announcement at 2pm. The logical money is on an appointment for Sec of State and/or Supreme Court, but we don’t know for sure! #arpx #arleg
A few cabinet members, outgoing Speaker Matt Shepherd, and a few other legislators have filed in.
Shout out to the Student Congress, who’s here today! They’ve got a couple delegates here
7 minutes past and still no Sanders! If her Facebook Zoom isn’t up yet, we’re told Channel 7 does in fact have a stream up, but beware of zealous camera movements.
There is also country music playing in the room
There is also country music playing in the room
Btw, as this is the first time we’ve been near it in person, we can finally, officially confirm: the lectern is real, folks. #lecterngate
She’s here! Here we go. She’s proud of her dad’s nomination as ambassador to Israel earlier today.
She’s says we’re achieving the transformational change she promised.
This is a state government reform plan today. It’s a new state employee pay plan. Raises for 2/3 of cabinet employees
This is a state government reform plan today. It’s a new state employee pay plan. Raises for 2/3 of cabinet employees
Will reward prof dev, increase opportunities for raises and promotions. She says they took current pay plan “down to the studs.”
(Will be a bit slower than usual - on a phone rather than my usual laptop)
For some, this will be as much as a 20% pay raise.
For some, this will be as much as a 20% pay raise.
After giving some personal stories of underpaid government employees, she turns it over to Secretary Fisken
The department engaged with McKinsey consulting, who encouraged them to create more competitive career paths and salaries (duh, how much did we pay them to tell us the obvious)
Over 22k employees’ status was reviewed as part of the process to help determine how far from private industry/other states we were.
New plan will bring all employees to labor market rates, esp state troopers, nurses, and social service workers. Two new pay tables and a few more classifications.
Approximately 14k employees will be shifted upward to the labor market rate, effective July 1 next year.
Blake Irvin, state trooper whose personal story Governor Sanders told earlier, talks about difficulty of raising foster kids after his house was destroyed in the tornado last year.
He says this will be huge for recruiting. Asks #arleg to pass it in upcoming session.
Sanders takes questions.
Sanders takes questions.
Q re cost for program
A: we anticipate cost at around 100 million. Sanders says first task is for cabinet secretaries to trim the fat from their budgets.
A: we anticipate cost at around 100 million. Sanders says first task is for cabinet secretaries to trim the fat from their budgets.
There is no new money in the budget for these raises.
Sanders does address the speculation to go back to DC; she says she’s proud to be Arkansas’ governor and has no intention of returning to DC.
Sanders does address the speculation to go back to DC; she says she’s proud to be Arkansas’ governor and has no intention of returning to DC.
Seems we’re done! Thanks for following along.
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