The recruitment and retention raises will mean total pay hikes ranging from 8.6 to 22.3 percent, with the greatest increases to the lowest paid. On June 3 the governor announced similar, special pay hikes to attract and keep State Police officers and conservation officers. All the increases will take effect January 1, 2000. The low salaries, along with the state s record low jobless rate of 2.5 percent, have made it difficult to retain good officers and recruit new ones, he explained. That, in turn, has resulted in other stresses, including a heavy overtime burden, particularly for correctional officers.
Government traditionally pays less than private employers.
But based on market research, these public safety workers wages will be competitive with salaries for similar jobs throughout Indiana, O Bannon pointed out. Our state public safety workers do demanding, dangerous jobs every day to protect the rest of us. We are trying to make it easier for them to look after themselves and their families, the governor said. The recruitment and retention raises are in addition to the general, annual pay increases for all state employees. The governor also announced that the salary matrix for excise officers will be increased by 8.6 percent.