Total compensation includes salary, group benefit plans, retirement benefits, performance awards, incentives, premium pay practices and leave. The survey identifies a total cost of $93 million for the State to reach prevailing market compensation. This includes data indicating an average statewide pay range adjustment of 2.8 percent.

Ordinarily, DPA Executive Director Jeff Wells makes a recommendation to the governor and the chair of the Joint Budget Committee detailing survey recommendations and requesting new dollars to fund the estimated increased cost for three major compensation components (salary adjustment, performance awards and group insurance contributions). However, after considering the financial position of Colorado’s budget, Wells is delaying making any recommendations and intends to discuss this issue further with the JBC and the entire General Assembly when they reconvene in January 2006.

Employment Services will communicate any future recommendations when they are released. If you have any questions regarding this information, please contact Employment Services at (303) 492-6475.