When Missouri Gov. Mike Parson proposed an across-the-board pay raise for a state workforce plagued by high turnover, he described the situation as “critical” and asked lawmakers to approve it by Feb. 1.

But the date has come without the measure even making it out of committee.

Department directors have been dangling the possibility of a raise in the hopes of keeping frontline staff such as prison guards, snowplow operators and child welfare workers from quitting. But the delay could increase the exodus.

Missouri routinely ranks at the bottom of the nation in state worker pay, and wages over the past two decades have only risen at half the rate of economic indicators such as the consumer price index, budget director Dan Haug told the House Budget Committee this month.

Parson’s plan would give all workers a 5.5% raise, and institute a minimum salary of $15 an hour across the state government. The latter move would affect about 8,800 of the state’s 51,000-member workforce that currently make less than $15 an hour.

It’s intended to stem a 26% rate of worker turnover across Missouri government. In lower-paid jobs, that rate is more than 50%.

Parson’s office did not respond to a request for comment on delays to the bill’s passage.

Department heads have been waiting on the spending bill, telling workers and prospective employees that they hoped to have a raise in place on Feb. 1 at the earliest.

“We’re certainly trying to be very transparent about the fact that it’s pending...

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