Readers have been asking questions about the 2008 pay raise. Most of the questions boil down to “Why didn’t I get the 3.5% I am supposed to get in my check this year?” or “How come people in DC are getting more than I am getting when they already make more money?”
It is hard to believe but the annual federal pay raise has been approved and OPM has issued various documents implementing the 2008 pay rates for federal employees. The median salary for federal employees in the DC area in 2008: $90,698.
With the approval of the omnibus spending bill by the House, the 2008 federal pay raise saga may be limping to an end this week despite predictions of an administrative disaster befalling the government with another shutdown or the possibility of a continuing resolution for the rest of the year.
The federal pay system is complex. Some readers have asked good questions because of confusion about the amount of their pay based on the possibility of an average pay increase of 3% or an average of 3.5%. If you are confused, you are not alone.
Congress has gone home even though the Senate says it is still technically open for business. While they may enjoy their time away from DC, their departure leaves open the possibility of furloughs in DoD, funding for most federal agencies still up in the air and uncertainty about the 2008 pay raise for current federal employees. Retirees are set though. Enjoy your holiday.
Any federal employee who may have wondered if career civil service employees are involved in politics need only consider the current budget war on spending for fiscal year 2008 (for the fiscal year that started October 1st). Will there be a government shutdown? Will “nonessential” federal employees be sent home? Will the dispute impact your 2008 pay raise?
OPM is implementing the 2007 pay raise but no one really knows what the final figures will be.
The possibility of a 2.7% average raise for federal employees took a decidedly negative turn this week with the announcement that Congress will, in effect, keep the continuing resolution in effect for the remainder of the fiscal year.
The process of determining the 2007 pay raise amount is moving along slowly. But, while the process is moving, there is no final answer on the question of how much employees will be getting in their paychecks next year.
Many Federal retirees are on track for a 2.9% increase next year–and the figure is likely to be higher by the end of September.
