No raises for state workers in Brownback’s 2013 budget

? Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback isn’t including a general pay increase for state employees in his proposed budget.

But the spending plan Brownback outlined Thursday would continue to fund a program that provides longevity bonuses to veteran state employees during the fiscal year that begins July 1.

The proposed budget notes that state employees haven’t received pay increases for several years, as Kansas has struggled with financial problems.

Brownback’s administration says he’s not proposing a cost-of-living increase for workers, or funding the boost in pay that civil service workers normally receive if they’ve satisfactorily completed another year of work.

But Brownback’s budget does include $12 million for longevity bonuses. At 10 years, workers get a bonus of $50 for every year of service, up to $1,250.