Legislators are providing up to three percent increases to Mississippi state employees and one percent raises to college and university staff; including community colleges. Republican Senator Briggs Hopson of Vicksburg chairs the Appropriations Committee. He says they’re trying to keep talented workers in Mississippi.
“I think part of being competitive is making sure our pay is going to be fair and competitive with our neighboring states to keep our best employees here. We have a great retirement system in Mississippi and pay may be lagged a little bit behind but we’re trying to move up on the pay scale to keep our brightest and best people here in Mississippi,” said Hopson.
According to the non-profit Mississippi Center for Public Policy, the state is 45th in the nation for population growth; losing more than 8,000 people between 2018 and 2019. Democratic Senator John Horhn of Jackson, says they’re looking at state employee salaries across the board to be more competitive.
“We’re working with the state personnel board to have them do a reassessment of a lot of the jobs that are being handled by state workers to make sure the salaries are in line with what neighboring states are paying so there’s a reclassification going on and an assessment,” said Horhn.
Horhn says college and university employees will receive their raises July 1. State employees will see their increases in January. The estimated cost of the raises is $26.4 million.
