Wyoming Senate Backs Ending Raises For State Retirees

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — A bill that would effectively end cost-of-living raises for state employees has advanced to the Wyoming House.

The Senate passed the proposal in a 23-7 vote on Tuesday after a failed effort to keep raises intact for judges and firefighters.

Senate File 59, sponsored by the Joint Appropriations Committee, would require various state retirement funds to reach a certain financial threshold before cost-of-living increases would be paid. The Wyoming Tribune Eagle reports that none of the retirement funds have reached that point.

Sen. John Hastert, a Democrat from Green River, sponsored the amendment to exempt funds that cover judges and firefighters. He said the state needs to study the issue and suggested revisiting in next year instead.