An employee of the State of Kansas is eligible to receive longevity pay upon completion of 120 months of state service and shall be paid by the Department of Administration on the employee's next regular pay warrant. An employee of the State of Kansas cannot be denied payment of a longevity bonus because of administrative changes in the anniversary date of when the employee will be paid the bonus or by changes in the payroll period. The State of Kansas has one fiscal year established by statute which commences on the 1st day of July in each year and closes on the 30th day of June the next succeeding year. The Secretary of Administration has authority to set payroll beginning and ending dates under K.S.A. 75-5515, but cannot change the state's fiscal year.
Equity regards substance rather than form.
Once an employee of an agency of the State of Kansas has met the requirements for the longevity bonus and funds have been appropriated to pay the bonus, it is a wage for the purpose of K.S.A. 1999 Supp. Opinion filed July 14, 2000. Affirmed as modified. We affirm and remand with directions. The facts of this case are not in dispute.