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2001 General Session and
2002 Special/Budget Session
Background. Wyoming's sluggish economy during the 1990s, combined with a steady erosion of the state's tax base due to tax breaks and tax rate reductions for mineral industries, led to a systematic underfunding of state agencies and underpayment of state employees for the past decade.
In interim work preceding the 2001 General Session, the State Employee Compensation Commission recommended a $40 million package to the Wyoming Legislature.
The package included bringing state employee salaries to market parity, providing a cost-of- living adjustment (COLA), increasing longevity pay, providing a state match for employee investments in a deferred compensation retirement supplement, and increasing the state's contribution to health insurance premiums.
The recommendations of the State Employee Compensation Commission were contained in five 2001 session bills, including the Governor's supplemental appropriations recommendations to the Legislature (SF 1/HB 1) and four additional bills.
The descriptions below cover the 2001 session bills as well as 2002 session bills in the areas where the 2001 proposals failed.
In addition, it is important to note that, although the descriptions refer to a compensation package, state employees currently are not offered a package as such.
The descriptions illustrate that the so-called package is, in fact, comprised of separate pieces that may or may not continue from year to year.
The Joint Appropriations Committee's priority study for the 2002 interim will be to look at state employee health insurance and compensation with an eye toward creating a genuine compensation package.
2001 Supplemental Budget Bill. The Governor recommended an appropriation of $12 million for market pay increases to make progress toward the state's goal of paying state employees at 100% of the marketplace for comparable jobs.
The State Employee Compensation Commission recommended $21 million to complete the task of bringing state employees to 100%.
Ultimately, a conference committee resolved differing amounts passed by the House and Senate for a compensation package. House and Senate roll call votes on this point are shown on the next page.
2001 HB 63: Longevity Pay Increase. The fiscal year 2001-2002 budget passed by the 2000 Legislature included a mandate to increase longevity pay for state employees from $30 to $40 per month for every five years of service.
However, the Legislature provided no funding for this increase, instead ordering agencies to pay for it out of their agency budgets. In some cases this resulted in unfilled positions or other shortfalls.
HB 63, sponsored by Rep. Wayne Johnson (R-H9, Cheyenne) appropriated $three million to cover this level of longevity pay.
The bill passed the House without opposition (Reps. George McMurtrey [R-H52, Rozet] and Ross Diercks [D-H2, Lusk] were excused), but was tabled in the Senate Appropriations Committee by the three majority party members (the two Democratic members were not present).
The 2002 session HB 74, also sponsored by Rep. Wayne Johnson, brought the same issue for consideration.
HB 74 easily gained introduction, 56-4.
Dissenting House votes on introduction were: Reps. Bruce Burns (R-H51, Sheridan), Roy Cohee (R-H35, Casper), Charles Hessenthaler (R-H26, Lovell) and Fred Parady (R-H17, Rock Springs).
HB 74 was then killed by the House Appropriations Committee but was amended into the general government appropriations bill.
Consequently, state employees will receive an extra $40/month for every five years of service through June 2004.
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2001 HB 64: State Employees - COLA. HB 64 appropriated $13 million for an across-the- board 5.3% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA)for all state employees.
The House Appropriations Committee killed HB 64. An across-the-board pay increase was included in the 2001 general government appropriations bill but was not described as a COLA.
As noted above, Gov. Geringer and the State Employee Compensation Commission were far apart in their proposals for state employee pay increases at $12 million and $21 million, respectively.
The amount in the 2001 supplemental budget bill brought by the Joint Appropriations Interim Committee was $14 million.
In the House, Reps. Tempest (R-H37, Casper) and Mike Baker (R-H28, Thermopolis) sought to lower the $14 million to $8.2 million. This amendment passed, 36-24.
The vote shown below is the 2001 House vote on the Tempest/Baker amendment to lower the amount proposed for state employee salary increases to $8.2 million, compared to the State Employee Compensation Commission's recommendation of $40 million to bring state employees' salaries to market levels.
A YES vote means the representative approved the cut, leaving state salaries far below market.
A NO vote means the representative opposed the cut.
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BIG HORN BASIN LEGISLATORS |
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S18 |
Sen. Hank Coe (R) |
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H24 |
Rep. Colin Simpson (R) |
Yes |
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H50 |
Rep. Pat Childers (R) |
Yes |
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S19 |
Sen. Carroll Miller (R) |
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H25 |
Rep. Alan Jones (R) |
Yes |
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H26 |
Rep. Chas. Hessenthaler (R) |
Yes |
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S20 |
Sen. Gerald Geis (R) |
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H27 |
Rep. Jane Wostenberg (R) |
Yes |
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H28 |
Rep. Mike Baker (R) |
Yes |
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CASPER-AREA LEGISLATORS |
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S27 |
Sen. Bruce Hinchey (R) |
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H35 |
Rep. Roy Cohee (R) |
Yes |
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H36 |
Rep. Gerald Gay (R) |
Yes |
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S28 |
Sen. Keith Goodenough (D) |
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H56 |
Rep. Pat Nagel (R) |
Yes |
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H57 |
Rep. Thomas Lockhart (R) |
Yes |
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S29 |
Sen. Bill Hawks (R) |
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H37 |
Rep. Rick Tempest (R) |
Yes |
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H59 |
Rep. Dick Sadler (D) |
No |
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S30 |
Sen. Charles Scott (R) |
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H38 |
Rep. Carolyn Paseneaux (R) |
Yes |
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H58 |
Rep. Ann Robinson (D) |
No |
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CHEYENNE-AREA LEGISLATORS |
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S4 |
Sen. April Brimmer Kunz (R) |
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H7 |
Rep. Tony Ross (R) |
No |
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H41 |
Rep. Mac McGraw (D) |
No |
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S5 |
Sen. John Hanes (R) |
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H8 |
Rep. Larry Meuli (R) |
No |
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H42 |
Rep. Pete Illoway (R) |
No |
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S6 |
Sen. Rich Cathcart (D) |
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H9 |
Rep. Wayne Johnson (R) |
No |
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H10 |
Rep. Pete Anderson (R) |
No |
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S7 |
Sen. Kathryn Sessions (D) |
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H11 |
Rep. Wayne Reese (D) |
No |
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H43 |
Rep. Doug Samuelson (R) |
No |
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S8 |
Sen. Jayne Mockler (D) |
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H12 |
Rep. Layton Morgan (D) |
No |
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H44 |
Rep. Floyd Esquibel (D) |
No |
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GILLETTE-AREA LEGISLATORS |
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S23 |
Sen. Steven Youngbauer (R) |
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H31 |
Rep. John Hines (R) |
No |
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H52 |
Rep. George McMurtrey (R) |
Yes |
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S24 |
Sen. Dick Erb (R) |
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H32 |
Rep. Jeff Wasserburger (R) |
Yes |
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H53 |
Rep. Nick Deegan (D) |
Yes |
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LANDER/RIVERTON-AREA |
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S25 |
Sen. Cale Case (R) |
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H33 |
Rep. Harry Tipton (R) |
Yes |
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H54 |
Rep. Del McOmie (R) |
No |
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S26 |
Sen. Bob Peck (R) |
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H34 |
Rep. Frank Philp (R) |
Yes |
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H55 |
Rep. David Miller (R) |
Yes |
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NORTHEAST/EAST CENTRAL |
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S1 |
Sen. Bill Barton (R) |
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H1 |
Rep. Marlene Simons (R) |
Yes |
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H2 |
Rep. Ross Diercks (D) |
No |
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S2 |
Sen. Jim Anderson (R) |
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H5 |
Rep. Jim Hageman (R) |
Yes |
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H6 |
Rep. Dave Edwards (R) |
Yes |
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S3 |
Sen. Curt Meier (R) |
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H3 |
Rep. Bill Stafford (R) |
Yes |
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H4 |
Rep. Roger Huckfeldt (R) |
Yes |
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SHERIDAN-AREA LEGISLATORS |
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S21 |
Sen. Tom Kinnison (R) |
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H29 |
Rep. Jerry Iekel (R) |
Yes |
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H51 |
Rep. Bruce Burns (R) |
Yes |
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S22 |
Sen. John Schiffer (R) |
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H30 |
Rep. Jack Landon (R) |
Yes |
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H40 |
Rep. Douglas Osborn (R) |
Yes |
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SOUTH CENTRAL WYOMING |
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S9 |
Sen. Mike Massie (D) |
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H13 |
Rep. Jane Warren (D) |
No |
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H45 |
Rep. Lorna Johnson (D) |
No |
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S10 |
Sen. Irene Devin (R) |
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H14 |
Rep. Phil Nicholas (R) |
No |
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H46 |
Rep. Jim Slater (R) |
Yes |
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S11 |
Sen. Bill Vasey (D) |
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H15 |
Rep. Tony Rose (R) |
Yes |
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H47 |
Rep. Teense Willford (R) |
Yes |
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SOUTHWEST WYOMING |
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S12 |
Sen. Rae Lynn Job (D) |
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H16 |
Rep. Stephen Watt (R) |
No |
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H48 |
Rep. George "Bud" Nelson (D) |
No |
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S13 |
Sen. Tex Boggs (D) |
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H17 |
Rep. Fred Parady (R) |
Yes |
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H60 |
Rep. Bill Thompson (D) |
No |
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S14 |
Sen. Mark Harris (D) |
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H18 |
Rep. John Eyre (R) |
Yes |
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H39 |
Rep. Chris Boswell (D) |
No |
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S15 |
Sen. Ken Decaria (D) |
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H19 |
Rep. Owen Petersen (R) |
Yes |
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H49 |
Rep. Saundra Meyer (D) |
No |
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WEST CENTRAL WYOMING |
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S16 |
Sen. Delaine Roberts (R) |
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H20 |
Rep. Louie Tomassi (R) |
Yes |
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H21 |
Rep. Randall Luthi (R) |
Yes |
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S17 |
Sen. Grant Larson (R) |
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H22 |
Rep. Jim "Bubba" Shivler (R) |
Yes |
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H23 |
Rep. Clarene Law (R) |
No |
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The Senate, on the other hand, voted 16-14 for an amendment offered by Sen. April Brimmer Kunz (R-S4) to increase the $14 million to $22.6 million.
The vote shown below is the 2001 Senate vote on the Kunz amendment to bring the amount appropriated for state employee market pay closer to the State Employee Compensation Commission's recommendation.
A YES vote means the senator favored increasing the amount appropriated to bring state employee salaries closer to market levels.
A NO vote means the senator opposed increasing the amount.
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BIG HORN BASIN LEGISLATORS |
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S18 |
Sen. Hank Coe (R) |
No |
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H24 |
Rep. Colin Simpson (R) |
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H50 |
Rep. Pat Childers (R) |
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S19 |
Sen. Carroll Miller (R) |
Yes |
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H25 |
Rep. Alan Jones (R) |
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H26 |
Rep. Chas. Hessenthaler (R) |
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S20 |
Sen. Gerald Geis (R) |
No |
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H27 |
Rep. Jane Wostenberg (R) |
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H28 |
Rep. Mike Baker (R) |
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CASPER-AREA LEGISLATORS |
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S27 |
Sen. Bruce Hinchey (R) |
No |
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H35 |
Rep. Roy Cohee (R) |
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H36 |
Rep. Gerald Gay (R) |
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S28 |
Sen. Keith Goodenough (D) |
Yes |
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H56 |
Rep. Pat Nagel (R) |
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H57 |
Rep. Thomas Lockhart (R) |
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S29 |
Sen. Bill Hawks (R) |
No |
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H37 |
Rep. Rick Tempest (R) |
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H59 |
Rep. Dick Sadler (D) |
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S30 |
Sen. Charles Scott (R) |
Yes |
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H38 |
Rep. Carolyn Paseneaux (R) |
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H58 |
Rep. Ann Robinson (D) |
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CHEYENNE-AREA LEGISLATORS |
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S4 |
Sen. April Brimmer Kunz (R) |
Yes |
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H7 |
Rep. Tony Ross (R) |
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H41 |
Rep. Mac McGraw (D) |
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S5 |
Sen. John Hanes (R) |
Yes |
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H8 |
Rep. Larry Meuli (R) |
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H42 |
Rep. Pete Illoway (R) |
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S6 |
Sen. Rich Cathcart (D) |
Yes |
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H9 |
Rep. Wayne Johnson (R) |
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H10 |
Rep. Pete Anderson (R) |
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S7 |
Sen. Kathryn Sessions (D) |
Yes |
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H11 |
Rep. Wayne Reese (D) |
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H43 |
Rep. Doug Samuelson (R) |
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S8 |
Sen. Jayne Mockler (D) |
Yes |
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H12 |
Rep. Layton Morgan (D) |
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H44 |
Rep. Floyd Esquibel (D) |
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GILLETTE-AREA LEGISLATORS |
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S23 |
Sen. Steven Youngbauer (R) |
No |
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H31 |
Rep. John Hines (R) |
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H52 |
Rep. George McMurtrey (R) |
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S24 |
Sen. Dick Erb (R) |
No |
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H32 |
Rep. Jeff Wasserburger (R) |
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H53 |
Rep. Nick Deegan (D) |
|
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LANDER/RIVERTON-AREA |
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S25 |
Sen. Cale Case (R) |
No |
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H33 |
Rep. Harry Tipton (R) |
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H54 |
Rep. Del McOmie (R) |
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S26 |
Sen. Bob Peck (R) |
Yes |
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H34 |
Rep. Frank Philp (R) |
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H55 |
Rep. David Miller (R) |
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NORTHEAST/EAST CENTRAL |
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S1 |
Sen. Bill Barton (R) |
No |
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H1 |
Rep. Marlene Simons (R) |
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H2 |
Rep. Ross Diercks (D) |
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S2 |
Sen. Jim Anderson (R) |
No |
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H5 |
Rep. Jim Hageman (R) |
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H6 |
Rep. Dave Edwards (R) |
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S3 |
Sen. Curt Meier (R) |
No |
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H3 |
Rep. Bill Stafford (R) |
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H4 |
Rep. Roger Huckfeldt (R) |
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SHERIDAN-AREA LEGISLATORS |
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S21 |
Sen. Tom Kinnison (R) |
No |
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H29 |
Rep. Jerry Iekel (R) |
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H51 |
Rep. Bruce Burns (R) |
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S22 |
Sen. John Schiffer (R) |
No |
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H30 |
Rep. Jack Landon (R) |
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H40 |
Rep. Douglas Osborn (R) |
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SOUTH CENTRAL WYOMING |
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S9 |
Sen. Mike Massie (D) |
Yes |
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H13 |
Rep. Jane Warren (D) |
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H45 |
Rep. Lorna Johnson (D) |
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S10 |
Sen. Irene Devin (R) |
Yes |
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H14 |
Rep. Phil Nicholas (R) |
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H46 |
Rep. Jim Slater (R) |
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S11 |
Sen. Bill Vasey (D) |
Yes |
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H15 |
Rep. Tony Rose (R) |
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H47 |
Rep. Teense Willford (R) |
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SOUTHWEST WYOMING |
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S12 |
Sen. Rae Lynn Job (D) |
Yes |
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H16 |
Rep. Stephen Watt (R) |
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H48 |
Rep. George "Bud" Nelson (D) |
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S13 |
Sen. Tex Boggs (D) |
Yes |
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H17 |
Rep. Fred Parady (R) |
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H60 |
Rep. Bill Thompson (D) |
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S14 |
Sen. Mark Harris (D) |
No |
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H18 |
Rep. John Eyre (R) |
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H39 |
Rep. Chris Boswell (D) |
|
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S15 |
Sen. Ken Decaria (D) |
Yes |
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H19 |
Rep. Owen Petersen (R) |
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H49 |
Rep. Saundra Meyer (D) |
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WEST CENTRAL WYOMING |
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S16 |
Sen. Delaine Roberts (R) |
Yes |
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H20 |
Rep. Louie Tomassi (R) |
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H21 |
Rep. Randall Luthi (R) |
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S17 |
Sen. Grant Larson (R) |
No |
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H22 |
Rep. Jim "Bubba" Shivler (R) |
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H23 |
Rep. Clarene Law (R) |
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Finally, the Joint Conference Committee Report on the supplemental budget bill that was adopted by both houses recommended $30 million for state employee compensation.
The supplemental budget bill directed 65% of the $30 million to bring state employees closer to market pay and 35% for across-the-board salary increases. The across-the-board salary increase resulted in an increase of $131 per month for every state employee.
HB 1/SJ 1 also funded $875,000 to match state employee investments in the deferred compensation retirement supplement program up to $20 per person/month.
In the 2002 special/budget session, Sen. April Brimmer Kunz (R-S4, Cheyenne) sponsored SF 78 to continue the $20 match and make it permanent.
SF 78 passed the Senate, 23-6 (one conflict), and the House, 50-1 (eight excused, one absent).
Dissenting votes were: Sens. Bill Barton (R-S1, Upton), Cale Case (R-S25, Lander), Dick Erb (R-S24, Gillette), Bruce Hinchey (R-S27, Casper), Curt Meier (R-S3, LaGrange), Steve Youngbauer (R- S23, Gillette), and Rep. Roger Huckfeldt (R-H4, Torrington).
Sen. Tex Boggs (D-S13, Rock Springs) declared a conflict of interest. Reps. Mike Baker (R- H28, Thermopolis), Bruce Burns (R-H51, Sheridan), Ross Diercks (D-H2, Lusk), Pat Nagel (R-H56, Casper), Wayne Reese (D-H11, Cheyenne), Doug Samuelson (R-H43, Cheyenne), Colin Simpson (R- H24, Cody), and Bill Stafford (R-H3, Chugwater) were excused.
Rep. Carolyn Paseneaux (R-H38, Casper) was absent.
2001 HB 78: Public Employee Mileage Allowance. HB 78 increased the mileage allowance from 28 to 34.5 cents per mile (the federal rate) for employees who drive their own vehicles on state business.
Despite several previous unsuccessful attempts to enact similar legislation, HB 78 handily passed the House, 56-2 (two excused), and the Senate, 26-4.
Dissenting House votes were: Reps. John Eyre (R-H18, Lyman) and Dick Sadler (D-H59, Casper).
Reps. George McMurtrey (R-H52, Rozet) and Ross Diercks (D-H2, Lusk) were excused.
Dissenting Senate votes were: Cale Case (R-S25, Lander), Bruce Hinchey (R-S27, Casper), Curt Meier (R-S3, LaGrange) and Carroll Miller (R-S19, Shell).
2001 HB 156: State Employee Travel Expenses - Amendments. HB 156 increased the amount of travel expenses for which employees can be reimbursed to levels allowed by the federal government (with higher rates because of higher costs in Teton and Park Counties).
Again, despite several earlier defeats of similar legislation, HB 156 easily passed the House, 55-3 (two excused), and the Senate, 29-0 (one conflict).
Dissenting House votes were: Reps. John Eyre (R-H18, Lyman), Frank Philp (R-H34, Shoshoni) and Dick Sadler (D-H59, Casper).
Reps. George McMurtrey (R-H52, Rozet) and Bill Stafford (R-H3, Chugwater) were excused.
Sen. Cale Case (R-S25, Lander) declared a conflict of interest on the Senate vote.