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House OKs $11M for with-in-grade increases, retro pay
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Posted on Mar 20 2005
The House of Representatives has unanimously approved a $10.9 million appropriation for fiscal year 2005 to raise government employees’ salary, pay off retroactive compensation, as well as retirement and health insurance contribution.
Authored by Rep. Jesus Attao, House Bill 14-304 aims to allocate $10.9 million to settle “unpaid frozen steps, with-in-grade increases and retroactive adjustments” for the last five years and 14 years, respectively.
Attao said “it is only fair and appropriate for the government to settle the long overdue payments so that former and current employees can enjoy their rightful salary and to avoid any litigation.”
He cited that both the House and Senate, in the vetoed $217.7 million appropriation bill for FY 2005, approved to fund the retroactive pay for Rota and Tinian employees, pursuant to Public Law 7-31, and with-in-grade increases and frozen steps pursuant to P.L. 10-76 and P.L. 11-59.
Under Attao’s bill, Rota employees would get a total of $1.9 million—$224,163 for frozen steps, $1.04 million for retropay, and $702,933 for WGI.
Tinian personnel would receive $1.5 million—$316,990 for frozen steps, $904,157 for retropay, and $344,971 for WGI.
Saipan employees would have $5.03 million—$1.6 million for frozen steps and $3.5 million for WGI.
The bill also wants to give $2.4 million for government employees’ retirement, Medicare, and health insurance contribution.
The proposed measure calls for the establishment of a special reserve account to deposit $10.9 million, which shall be used only for eligible employees.
The bill asks the Retirement Fund to recalculate and adjust the benefits of those current and former employees who are now entitled to salary adjustment compensation and shall receive one lump sum payment added on to one of the three highest annual salaries.
Attao’s bill was co-sponsored mainly by the minority bloc lawmakers in the House of Representatives.
