Some Top Minn. State Employees In Line For Raises

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- Some Minnesota state employees stuck under a salary cap for 15 years may finally be in line for raises.

Many of the state's top jobs have been subject to a cap based on the governor's pay.

The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports Tuesday that many could get raises after the Legislature's vote this year to increase salaries for the governor and agency commissioners for the first time since 1998.

State union leaders and some state executives say the cap made it hard to compete for top talent.

A deputy transportation commissioner says her agency can't even keep up with county governments, which pay as much as $50,000 a year more for engineers.

Some Republican lawmakers say it's a bad time to boost state salaries already at the higher end.

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