2026-27 State Budget (SB 257) — Impact on State Employees & Retirees

A working reference of every budget provision affecting SEANC members, organized by topic, with plain-language implications. Built from the enacted conference report and committee summary.

Enacted — effective July 1, 2026
Base Raise
3%
Most state employees, effective 7/1/26. Inflation is running well above this.
One-Time Bonus
$1,750 / $1,000
By income tier. Not retirement-creditable — never affects your pension.
Retiree Supplement
2.5%
One-time only — not a permanent COLA. No vested right to future payments.
Law Enforcement Raises
6.5%–20.3%+
Varies by role and years of experience — averages include both the new pay schedule and step movement.
Net Position Cuts
−742 FTEs
Statewide recurring reduction, concentrated in Corrections & DHHS.
Left Unspent
$1.0B
Unappropriated General Fund balance — could have funded more.

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers sourced directly from the bill text and verified reporting where possible. Click a question to expand.