Longevity Raise Planned for State Employees

By Rep. Rick West

The House last week voted on a bill that would increase longevity pay for state employees by 50%. Senate Bill 169 specifies changes for step raises from two years of employment to 20 or more. This is pay state employees earn each year based on the numbers of years they’ve been employed with the state. Payment for those serving two to three years would go from $250 to $375. Pay for those serving 20 years or more would increase from $2,000 to $3,000. There are multiple steps between.

The bill was amended in the House, so it now goes back to the Senate for final approval before moving to the governor for his consideration of signing it into law.

Senate Joint Resolution 39 also passed in the House. This would lower the annual cap for homestead and agricultural land from 3% to 1.75%. I wanted 1% to be the floor, but I settled for 1.75%.

The cap for all other real property would decrease from 5% to 4%. I wanted this to go to 3%, but that did not happen.

Changes would apply beginning in tax year 2027.

Lawmakers were told this would give Oklahoma the lowest fixed cap on growth on homestead property taxes of any state in the nation should this be approved by voters.

The measure also would establish a tiered system for homestead property owned by those who are 65 and older, basing the cap on income relative to median income within their county. Those making at or below 100% of the median income would have no increase. Those making above 180% of the median income would have a 1.75% cap. Steps between 0.35% to 1.4% would exist between the lowest and highest levels.

The hope of House and Senate leadership is to place this before a vote of the people in a statewide special election in August. The resolution was amended in the House, so it will return to the Senate for final passage before it could move to the secretary of state to be placed on the August ballot.

On the topic of taxpayer money, I opposed House Bill 4071 and 4072. The first would set aside $12.5 million of taxpayer money to establish the Oklahoma Dream Accounts Investment Program to set up $250 investment accounts for eligible children in Oklahoma. The second is the Taxpayer Endowment Trust Fund, described as a sovereign-wealth-style fund, which directs $200 million of taxpayer money be held in an investment account to generate long-term investment income for the state. Why do we want the government to invest our taxpayer money and manage this? Just give this back to the taxpayers and let them determine how to invest, save or spend it. We already have about $3 billion in state savings accounts. We don’t need this excess government involvement.

On a brighter note, on Sunday, I went to the 2026 Area 10 Kiamichi Country Sports Banquet for Special Olympics. Randy Weaver is the director for this chapter, and he put on a great program. They had a nice dinner and gave out awards. It was really nice.

Remember to listen to my Capitol update on the radio at 7:35 a.m. every Thursday on KPRV.

As always, if I can help you with anything, please call my Capitol office at (405) 557-7413 or email me at rick.west@okhouse.gov.

 

Rick West serves District 3 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. His district includes part of LeFlore County.