The Iowa Department of Administrative Services says there’s still money available to ensure that state workers called up to active duty in the military didn’t lose money in their paycheck. The program was approved in 2003 to supplement a state workers military pay if it’s lower than their regular state paycheck.
D.A.S. spokesman, Caleb Hunter, says they didn’t expect very many state employees to apply. “In most instances servicemembers receive a pay increase by going on active duty, not a decrease,” Hunters says, “so it wasn’t intended to be a heavily utilized piece.” Hunter says the intent was to be sure those that did see a drop in pay had a way to make it up.
He says the legislature and the governor at the time wanted to make sure that no one called up to active duty would be subjected to a pay cut to go and do that for their country. About two dozen state employees have used the fund, and about $68,000 is still available.