Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders is calling on the legislature to green light her Arkansas Forward plan in a memo to all state employees. The governor revealed her desire to overhaul the state employee pay plan in its entirety. In the meantime, Sanders is asking the legislature to approve a temporary plan which includes a one time 3 percent increase to Arkansas state employees and also raises every state employee’s pay to at least 15 an hour by July 1st.
Sanders said that maximum salary ranges would also be increased by 10%. “State government is only as efficient and effective as the people who staff it,” Sanders said. “I believe this plan strikes the balance between spending Arkansans tax dollars wisely, increasing competitiveness, and rewarding our best state employees. I look forward to the legislatures speedy review and approval of these proposals.” According to Scott Hardin, a spokesperson for the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA), there will be no job cuts if the 3% is implemented. Hardin went on to say that, if for any reason an agency needs additional funding related to the raises, the state’s performance fund is available to fill those funding gaps.
Sanders hopes to make her entire vision a reality with other changes in the next legislative session in 2025.
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