MS Proposes Bill to Give Some State Employees a Raise

The Mississippi state legislature has proposed a bill to give all state employees who make less than $50,000 per year a $1,500 pay raise.

Employees making less than $30,000 per year saw a small pay raise passed in last year’s legislative session, but representatives believe it’s important to reward those who work hard for the state. On the Coast, the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (M.D.M.R.) says they would like to see the bill passed because they see firsthand just how hard their employees work.

Melissa Scallan, Public Relations for the M.D.M.R., says, "I think it would be a big boost for state employees. When state budgets have been lean in the past decade and revenue has not been what we expected. So if there’s a way to give state employees a boost that would be great. We certainly appreciate any efforts that our legislators make and to reward the hard working people.”

The bill was proposed by Representative Lane Rushing and will be taken up by the Mississippi House of Representatives Appropriations Committee.