AP survey: SD lawmakers favor state worker raise

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PIERRE (AP) — A survey by The Associated Press indicates that South Dakota lawmakers like Gov. Dennis Daugaard's plan to give state employees a pay raise after a three-year salary freeze.

About 60 percent of the lawmakers responding to the survey say they support the governor's plan to give, while 10 percent oppose it and 30 percent are undecided.

Daugaard has proposed giving state workers a 3 percent across-the-board salary increase in the budget year beginning in July and a one-time bonus equal to 5 percent of their annual salaries this spring.

Legislative leaders say lawmakers will give strong support to the ongoing 3 percent pay raise, but they expect a lot of debate on the proposed bonus.

Some lawmakers want to give all state employees the same bonus regardless of their salary.

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