Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. announced that the administration has officially begun distributing retroactive wage checks to thousands of current and former government employees, reaffirming his administration’s long-standing commitment to honoring past wage obligations that date back more than three decades.
Retroactive wage payments were issued Friday to several hundred individuals, marking the start of the distribution of a new $22.5 million disbursement that will benefit more than 8,000 employees and retirees. The payments will continue to be issued through May 30, according to the press release.
“As many of you know, Act 6984 established the Retroactive Wage Commission to determine what was owed to nearly 11,000 active and former government employees and retirees who served between 1990 and 2001. That amount totaled more than $225 million,” Bryan said. “To date, our administration has paid more than $44 million toward that obligation, covering over sixty percent of what is owed. One hundred forty-four individuals have already received their full payout.”
This latest disbursement will deliver:
• Full payments to individuals owed $2,500 or less — benefiting an estimated 2,030 individuals, bringing the total number of fully paid recipients to nearly 25 percent of all those owed.
• Partial payments (14 percent) to those owed more than $2,500, allowing thousands of others to receive meaningful progress toward what they are owed.
The governor emphasized that these payments reflect more than financial restitution —they represent a promise kept, the press release stated.
“We know what our residents are dealing with — especially today,” Bryan said. “In an era of persistent inflation, rising costs, and many living on fixed incomes, this payout represents a measure of relief, and also a recognition of sacrifice and service.”
He extended gratitude to the members of the 36th Legislature, especially to Sen. Novelle Francis, for partnering with the administration to approve this latest appropriation from a dedicated funding source, enabling the government to meet this important obligation, the release stated.
“As we continue this work — whether addressing overdue tax refunds, tackling long-standing infrastructure needs, or making overdue wage adjustments — we remain grounded in a simple but powerful truth: that government must not forget the people it serves,” Bryan added. “That’s the core of our commitment as an administration — and it is what will continue to guide us as we meet the next challenge, and the next opportunity, together.”
