Topeka ? Classified employees from Kansas University and other regents schools lobbied lawmakers Tuesday, asking for a 7.5 percent pay increase, but not expecting to get it.

“This is a process of asking for what we want, and hopefully getting something acceptable,” said Dennis Constance, a custodial supervisor at KU.

Since 1981, wages for state employees have grown at about half the rate of inflation, Constance said.

Constance said he would like the Legislature to initiate a study into how much state employee pay has slipped in relation to the cost of living and skyrocketing health insurance costs.

Constance said about 50 regents employees from the various schools spent the day meeting with legislative leaders.

He said a 7.5 percent pay increase would make up for three years of inadequate increases in the civil service pay matrix. Last year, state employees received a 1.5 percent pay raise. Gov. Kathleen Sebelius has proposed a 3 percent pay increase for the next fiscal year.

After a meeting with Senate President Dave Kerr, R-Hutchinson, Constance said the chance of a decent pay increase was slim.