Comments sought on merit pay change

State government’s employment agency begins seeking public comment today on a proposal that would wipe out the longtime system that gave most state employees 4 percent annual pay raises.

The move starts a process that could lead to a commission vote on the proposal as early as Nov. 4.

Under the proposal, a state employee who gets an “outstanding” job rating could get up to a 6 percent raise. But state agencies could also develop pay raise policies in which employees could receive no raises.

Some 60,000 Civil Service employees would be covered. Another 38,000 unclassified employees, who serve at the pleasure of their bosses, would not be covered.

Templet said the proposal will be posted on the Civil Service Web site today — http://www.civilservice.la.gov. People can comment on the plan via e-mail, regular mail and in person at a Nov. 4 commission meeting, she said.