With the state facing a severe downturn in revenue collections, Washington State Gov. Jay Inslee has directed state agencies under his authority to cancel a scheduled 3% general wage increase for many of the state’s highest-paid general government employees and to begin furloughs for most state employees.
According to officials, most state employees are scheduled to receive the general wage increase July 1 as approved by the Legislature last year.
But under Inslee’s directive, cabinet agencies will cancel the pay raise for agency directors, Exempt Management Service and Washington Management Service employees, and all other exempt employees who earn more than $53,000 annually.
This includes Exempt Management Service employees, made up mostly of state agency executive and senior-level managers, and Washington Management Service employees, largely mid-level managers across state government.
“We also recognize that furloughs and not extending the general wage increase to all employees will cause financial hardship for some state employees.”
