Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. confirmed Tuesday night that he has signed the fiscal year 2026 budget bills into law, a move that, among other things, clears the final hurdle for the long-awaited $35,000 minimum salary increase for government workers. With his signature, months of debate over how to fund the raise have shifted to the practical task of implementation.
The administration will now begin preparing to make the adjustments, though officials said that amended Notices of Personnel Action must still be processed by the Division of Personnel before the higher paychecks reach employees. The last day of fiscal year 2025 was Sept. 30.
Sen. Kurt Vialet, who shepherded the increase through the Legislature, urged agencies not to drag their feet on that step. “Our employees cannot afford unnecessary delays,” Vialet said in a release Monday. “The Legislature acted to bring relief through this salary adjustment, and it is now the responsibility of agencies to ensure that the data is provided to Personnel so the increases are reflected for the fiscal year. This is about planning, accountability, and making good on our commitment to our workforce.”
The raise stems from Bill No. 36-0053, sponsored by Vialet and enacted in May over the governor’s veto. It lifts the minimum salary for full-time government employees from $27,040 to $35,000 beginning Oct. 1. Budget testimony revealed that the largest gaps were among custodial workers and other frontline staff, while many agencies already had employees earning closer to the new threshold.
Bryan initially vetoed the measure this spring, calling it “reckless” and warning that the price tag could approach $40 million annually once payroll and fringe benefits were included. Senators countered that the impact would be far less. Their veto override cemented the increase into law, but left the summer budget hearings consumed with the question of how to pay for it.
That answer came during the September markup, when Finance, Budget, and Appropriations Chair Sen. Novelle Francis said the actual cost, after consultation with the Office of Management and Budget and the Division of Personnel, is closer to $4.6 million — about $3.5 million for salaries and $1.1 million for fringe benefits. Francis explained that many employees already earned just under the $35,000 floor, and that the shortfall was concentrated in areas such as Sports, Parks and Recreation. Lawmakers ultimately redirected vacancy savings from more than 800 unfilled positions across government to bridge the gap.
The full Senate approved the budget bills on Sept. 15, appropriating a little more $1 billion – including General Fund, reimbursements, federal funds, and transfers – for FY 2026. For Vialet, the next step is ensuring that implementation keeps pace with legislative intent.
“Delays at the agency level translate directly into delays for employees,” he said in his release. “Submitting the information on time guarantees a smooth transition and prevents the kind of bureaucratic setbacks that undermine confidence.”