Ask the PBA

Nope, never have and never will. It has been proposed many times over the past 30 years> Its too easy and makes too much sense. The legislature would rather say no, up yours you will get what we give you and you will like it...

[Matt Puckett]

Matt, thanks for answering my last post. About the use of those funds and them trying to give it back. Could PBA or all of us push that they have those funds now and the tax payers are already paying them and they are wanting to give it back........ "Well then they cant say they dont have the money anymore, its right there" and we proposed it before they used it. Could this be used as a push in our direction? I'm sure there should be enough to get the pay where it should be, fund a step plan and still give some back to the taxpayers. As far as the special comp "pay as you go". That might be alright, but personally I liked having the extra time available to use when I would like to. Most of us work our shifts, offduty and side jobs elsewhere and may do it for long stretches without any time off between all of them or being able to spend time with family. So when the opportunity to take some time comes around it's nice to have it there. There again knowing that I'm not going to get paid out for no more than 240 hrs worth anyway upon seperation from the department. Thanks for all your hard work, would really like to know your (or PBA's) concensus of the funding they want to give back.

The Legislature just sent it to the Governor yesterday. It was offered as a tax break to the motoring (voting) public.

May,

Both house and senate have released their budgets. Anything in there for us? Anything on paper and not just talk or speculation?

Sorry meant Matt

May,

Both house and senate have released their budgets. Anything in there for us? Anything on paper and not just talk or speculation?

[Matt Puckett]

Sorry meant Matt

May,

Both house and senate have released their budgets. Anything in there for us? Anything on paper and not just talk or speculation?

So far both chambers are completely funding incidental and court overtime to last year's level. We were able to get an additional $2 million last year and it is back this year. As for pay raises, nothing yet, but it is early.

Matt,

It will be true raises not just a bonus this session right ?

[Matt Puckett]

Matt,

It will be true raises not just a bonus this session right ?

We are asking for true raises.

Matt,

What's the deal with the new tattoo policy and how does it affect those that had tattoos within the old policy when they got them?

Matt,

What's the deal with the new tattoo policy and how does it affect those that had tattoos within the old policy when they got them?

Starting wearing long sleeves. Vision is what you need to have. What will be the consequences of my actions down the road.

[Matt Puckett]

The House of Representatives' budget has a 5% across-the- board pay raise for all three bargaining units: FHP, State Law Enforcement Officers and FDLE Special Agents.

(a) Effective July 1, 2014, from the funds in Specific Appropriation
1981, $2,250,000 from the General Revenue Fund and $8,510,000 from trust
funds are provided to fund competitive pay adjustments of five percent
on each employee's June 30, 2014 base rate of pay, to unit and non-unit
employees of the Law Enforcement, Florida Highway Patrol, and Special
Agent bargaining units.

We still have more than a month to go, but this is a great start.

The Appropriations Committee meets today to officially present this proposal.