Fasano Asks Lamont to Delay State Employee Pay Increases, Instead Direct Funds to Nonprofits

Today Senate Republican Leader Len Fasano (R-North Haven) wrote to Governor Ned Lamont and the State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition’s (SEBAC) chief negotiator Daniel Livingston to ask that they consider delaying scheduled state employee pay increases and instead direct those funds to support the state’s nonprofit providers struggling to provide safety net services during the coronavirus pandemic.

State employee pay increases are scheduled to go into effect July 1, 2020 as approved under the 2017 SEBAC deal and the state budget. These pay increases include a 3.5% general wage increase and an annual step increase of 2%. These raises are estimated to cost the state $119 million in the General Fund and $15.3 million in the Special Transportation Fund.

“At a time when Connecticut residents, nonprofits and social service providers are struggling significantly, the state should consider delaying these raises and instead directing those funds to support the state’s nonprofit providers who make up our safety net services that help the most vulnerable populations,” Fasano wrote.

“Nonprofits have sounded the alarm that many are on the brink of financial disaster…they are struggling to get access to protective equipment and their revenues are eroding. They have furloughed employees and are considering further action to control the costs of staffing,” Fasano wrote to Governor Lamont. He also pointed to bipartisan support for helping nonprofits, mentioning comments Senator Cathy Osten made earlier this week about the need to pay attention to nonprofits.

“Given this situation, I ask that you consider pausing the scheduled state employee pay increases and using those funds to instead bolster Connecticut’s struggling nonprofits so they can support their workers and vulnerable clients. At a time when everyone is sacrificing so much, when jobs are disappearing around us, a small sacrifice of temporarily pausing a pay increase can go a long way. Delaying these raises for state employees can mean someone else who works at a nonprofit can go back to work and provide needed care for someone who is physically, mentally, or emotionally struggling. It means more funding can be directed to lifesaving PPE supplies. It could give our nonprofits the boost they need to help thousands of residents survive the various crises they now face.”

Fasano also wrote to the state employees’ chief negotiator Dan Livingston to seek support: “I am asking for your support of this proposal that asks state employees to make a small sacrifice in delaying a pay increase to make a big difference in the lives of the workers and clients of nonprofit providers,” Fasano wrote.

View Sen. Fasano’s letter to Governor Lamont.

View Sen. Fasano’s letter to Attorney Daniel Livingston.