Legislative committee approves plan for state troopers to receive 3% raise

MADISON -- The legislative committee that handles state workers' contracts has approved a new plan for state troopers.

The Republican-controlled Joint Committee on Employment Relations rejected a two-year deal in March that would have given troopers a 17 percent pay raise on average. Committee leaders said the full Legislature would never support such a raise.

The committee voted 8-0 Tuesday to adopt a new contract that would give troopers a 3 percent raise for fiscal year 2014 and again for fiscal year 2015. The money would be paid through retroactive lump sums and the new rates would remain in effect going forward. In exchange the troopers would have to pay more for their health insurance.

The contract still must pass both the Senate and the Assembly before it can take effect.