NM Panel Proposes Pay Increases For State Workers

State workers would receive a 1 percent salary increase next year — their first raise since 2008 — and state police officers would get a 3 percent pay hike under a legislative committee's budget recommendations.

The Legislative Finance Committee released budget proposals Wednesday for spending about $5.9 billion on public education and government programs in the 2014 fiscal year starting July 1. That's an increase of about 4 percent or $232 million.

The panel's recommendations serve as a foundation for budget decisions during the legislative session that starts next week.

The salary increases would cost about $32 million.

Lawmakers proposed spending $54 million to boost government contributions for public employee and educator pensions, and an extra $16 million for early childhood programs, including pre-kindergarten and child care assistance.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.