New reporting confirms what many of us suspected—the administration has been quietly shifting the target pay rate for state employees downward, without public discussion or transparency. According to an unredacted contract amendment obtained by journalist Dermot Cole, the administration specifically directed the contractor to analyze pay at the 50th percentile for most positions, rather than the longstanding 65th percentile policy. This move could justify lower wages for state workers, all while the administration refuses to release the study’s draft findings.

This secrecy is unacceptable. We continue to push for the release of the salary study’s findings through the Alaska Public Records Act (APRA) process. You—and the public—deserve to see the data that will shape the future of state employee pay.

For more details, read Dermot Cole’s full report here: State Claims Secrecy for State Salary Contract