The Oklahoma Public Employees Association is asking the Legislature to get creative with the next state budget and keep state employees from feeling the impact of impending cuts. OPEA requested that lawmakers look at the need for our state’s core services as they find ways to improve compensation for both state employees and educators.
There are fellow Oklahomans who provide core services critical to our state,” said OPEA Executive Director Sterling Zearley. “State employees work daily to keep our roads safe and hazard free, protect our children and vulnerable adults from abuse and neglect, provide quality health care to our seniors and veterans, watch over incarcerated offenders as well as countless other services. As important as education is, our leaders must also find a way to fund services that our citizens rely on and support the employees who provide them.”
OPEA points out a 2013 study spearheaded by Gov. Fallin revealed that state jobs were not keeping up with the private sector compensation. A program to help provide pay increases for some state employees was put on hold because of last year’s budget shortfall.
