The Governor’s Office announced that 3221 state employees will get an average 4.2 percent salary increase. Approximately $7.5 million was authorized by the General Assembly to compensate employees in high-demand professions such as medicine and information technology. About 1200 nurses and 600 law enforcement personnel will get raises up to 4 percent while the remaining can receive increases up to 10 percent. While most of the money is to bring salaries to a level comparable to the private sector, some money was used to compensate employees who have assumed greater responsibilities but no concurrent pay hike because of a salary freeze. The salary hikes were implemented in hopes of lessening turnover. I’m George Olsen.