Different Way of Dividing Raise Suggested

The council considered, but made no recommendation on, an alternative way of dividing up the money among localities that would have shifted more of the money away from localities where the gaps are smallest toward those with the largest gaps—although working out to roughly only on the order of a few tenths of a percentage point differences in raises. A working group of the council suggested making that change but the council decided to take no position on the issue after union members objected. That question now goes to a higher level body, the President’s Pay Agent, although the ultimate decision is in the hands of President Bush. If the traditional method is used, a 2.2 percent total raise would produce January raises ranging from 2.03 percent in RUS to 2.71 percent in San Francisco. The alternative method would produce raises ranging 1.81 to 3 percent, again assuming a 2.2 percent total. A 2.7 percent total would produce raises ranging from 2.36 to 3.72 percent under the traditional method and from 1.91 to 4.29 percent under the alternative method.