A Little More Patience Needed on Raise

Although many employees are naturally eager to see the new pay tables reflecting the January 2006 federal raise, President Bush has not yet issued an executive order that is needed to carry out certain specifics of the increase. The average raise amount, 3.1 percent, was locked in by earlier his signature of an appropriations bill. However, the tables showing the new pay rates by locality will not be available until the executive order is issued that will formally divide the amount between locality and across-the-board raises. That order could come at any time, but it typically is issued during the last several days of December.