DOVER — State employees are closer to seeing pay raises after the Joint Finance Committee approved a revised pay policy Tuesday.

Under the new plan, employees will receive raises based on their pay grade, with employees in the lowest categories receiving higher compensation. Full-time workers would receive a raise of 2.3%-9%, depending on their pay grade, while educators would receive a 2% raise. The revised plan also allows collective bargaining units to receive raises, according to their negotiations.

“An investment in our state workforce is an investment in the critical services our communities depend on,” said JFC Chair Sen. Trey Paradee, D-Dover.

 “Over the winter, nearly every department of state government rang the alarm about their struggles with staff shortages due at least in part to state salaries coming in at below market rate. As we compete for human infrastructure with major corporations in the area, we need to remain competitive if we are going to hope to maintain the level of services our state provides at its current level. The operating budget we are crafting this week is not the final investment in our state workforce that needs to be made, but it is a strong step in the right direction.”

The revised policy would provide the largest percentage increases to those earning an average state employee salary or less. The average salary for state employees is just under $49,000 per year, and those earning that salary or less would be entitled to increases from 5.6% -9%.

“We owe it to our dedicated state workers — many (of) whom worked through the unprecedented circumstances of the pandemic — to compensate them fairly and offer meaningful opportunities for career advancement. We’re fortunate this year to be able to not only give a good across-the-board raise, but we’re targeting working Delawareans who most need a raise,” said JFC Vice Chair Rep. William Carson, D-Smyrna.

“The cost of goods and services have been increasing rapidly, forcing working families to make tough decisions that no one should have (to) make. By using a sliding scale for raises, we are ensuring all employees receive a raise, but we’re preventing those on the lower end of the pay scale from falling further behind.”

The new plan also provides state pensioners a 2%-3% increase in salary, dependent on their scheduled date of retirement, as well as gives all state employees, educators, part-time workers and retirees a $500 bonus.

Since JFC approved these pay raises, they become part of the proposed 2023 budget, which will be voted on by both the House of Representatives and the Senate in June.

JFC will meet Wednesday at 10 a.m. to continue discussing the operating budget for fiscal year 2023.