Readers' Comments
Total Comments: 10
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Some Feds Will See Decreasing Paychecks
Total Comments: 10
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| Close | Change | YTD | |
| G | $13.2033 | +0.0011 | +0.64% |
| F | $13.5947 | +0.0048 | +1.95% |
| C | $13.6927 | -0.0027 | +3.59% |
| S | $17.9723 | +0.0233 | +9.18% |
| I | $18.5302 | +0.1287 | -0.04% |
| Close | Change | YTD | |
| L 2040 | $16.1474 | +0.0291 | +3.28% |
| L 2030 | $15.9136 | +0.0249 | +2.93% |
| L 2020 | $15.6956 | +0.0208 | +2.45% |
| L 2010 | $15.4351 | +0.0080 | +1.41% |
| L Income | $14.0647 | +0.0064 | +1.33% |
March 14, 2010
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COLA
DOI
Tue Aug 15, 2006 10:29 AM
Post Reply
Having a COLA is important for hiring and keeping personnel out of the poverty level. OPM has some strange ideas on the requirements for a COLA. For instance because we only have 200 government employees in our county we cannot obtain a COLA. Yet the adjacent counties that have a lower cost of living, lower housing costs, lower rent, discount stores that we drive to, have a COLA. This whole process does not make any sense and needs to be revised.
Alaska's COLA
FAA
Tue Aug 15, 2006 1:37 PM
Post Reply
When I first went to work for FAA in '89 as a wage grade employee, the wages they paid me here in Alaska were based on the local prevailing wage for like trades. Several reorganizations later, I find myself doing essentially the same work, but am now on the FG (Federal Grade) scale and receiving 25% COLA. I think I was better off when I was getting paid WG scale, because then it contributed toward my retirement. With COLA, none of it will benefit me in the longer run. COLA used to be a draw for getting technicians from the lower 48, but now, with locality pay that benefits TSP, retirements, and even FGLI, COLA doesn't have the drawing power it once had, especially since it's decreasing. We've been trying to get switched over to Locality Pay for years, but have been thwarted over and over by the government. That tells you something about which is the better system of compensation for the employee right there.
Fed Pay
IRS
Tue Aug 15, 2006 1:42 PM
Post Reply
There seems to be a growing number of attempts to limit federal pay. IRS has its ill conceived paybanding scheme for managers only which puts the COLA at risk for managers. The COLA (General Schedule Increase) has been one of the great strengths of federal service. While it has not made anyone reach it has ensured at least a liveable wage. Attempts to weaken or eliminate the COLA like IRS' will only weaken federal pay and in turn federal service. But maybe that's the idea. Federal Unions and the Federal Manager Association are right to question these schemes and fight them when they can and it is appropriate.
Re: Fed Pay
DoD
Tue Aug 15, 2006 2:55 PM
COLA, US Virgin Islands
CBP
Tue Aug 15, 2006 6:19 PM
Post Reply
Interestingly, the COLA pay did raise my salary considerably past what I made in the RUS Locality group prior to coming to the VI. HOWEVER, the salary in these areas is not so much the issue as the transportation costs back/forth to the mainland, the lack of some medical & educational facilities, etc. At one time, the Caribbean stations were treated like other outside-the-mainland areas but because those areas are "US territory", its now no different than Alaska or Hawaii, even though these areas have their own governments, their own laws, and are only tenuously attached to the Federal government, other than the budgetary stuff.
Re: COLA, US Virgin Islands
CBP
Fri Aug 18, 2006 6:35 AM
COLA is outdated
DOD
Wed Aug 16, 2006 10:19 AM
Post Reply
COLA needs to be eliminated all together and bring Alaska and other COLA areas under the locality pay system. Interestingly a study that was conducted a few years back sated if Alaska (Anchorage) was brought under locality pay it would be around 33% and hire in the more remote areas.
Response to Question
CBP
Thu Aug 24, 2006 6:40 PM
Post Reply
No - the locality pay is removed, and the COLA is 23% (depends on where) of the base pay. The COLA does not apply to overtime or differential pay (premium pay), however the COLA pay is not taxable.
Hope that helps.
COLA base
FHWA
Wed Sep 13, 2006 10:19 AM
Post Reply
The comment dated August 18 indicated that the COLA was on top of the RUS pay, it's not. It is based on the actual base pay before any locality pay is computated and the base pay is what retirement benefits are based on. Yes, we do not pay tax on the COLA amount, but we are also not putting as much into the retirement plans, FERS, CSRS, TSP, as anyone in the lower 48 that's under the RUS pay scale.