Cape Codders to get locality pay; others left out

The Federal Salary Council on Tuesday said federal employees in Cape Cod, Mass. should be paid as much as federal employees in Boston, a change that would put thousands of more dollars into the pockets of Cape Cod employees each year.

In a rare move, the council voted to extend Boston's higher locality pay rate to Barnstable County, Mass., where Cape Cod is located. About 750 federal workers would benefit from the change, which would take place in January 2004 if the Bush administration approves it. Currently, Cape Codders are paid at the "Rest of U.S." locality pay rate, the rate that applies to all federal workers in the 48 contiguous United States not covered by 31 higher rates in metropolitan areas such as Boston, Washington and Houston.

Dozens of federal officials from across the country petition the salary council each year for higher locality rates, but the council usually declines their requests. The last time requests were approved, in January 2001, Rhode Island workers became covered by the Boston locality rate and Monterey County, Calif., workers were placed under the San Francisco locality rate.

The council's recommendation on Cape Cod will be forwarded to the Bush administration in a memorandum later this fall. If the administration approves the change, Cape Codders will see the higher pay rates beginning in January 2004. If the change were in place today, a GS-4, Step 4 worker would make $1,102 more this year. A GS-15, Step 1 manager would make $4,071 more.

The recommendation was something of a surprise, because the council has avoided petitions from federal officials for the last two years by saying that new census data, which will be available in the spring of 2003, could dramatically affect locality pay boundaries.

But Peter Tchirkow, an American Federation of Government Employees staffer who is a member of the salary council, said Cape Cod's economy is clearly integrated with that of Boston. In addition, Tchirkow pointed to a map of the eastern seaboard showing that Barnstable County is the only county not covered by a higher locality rate in a swath of counties that stretches from southern Maine to the Washington area.

"Barnstable sticks out like a sore thumb," Tchirkow said.

Officials from four areas-Cape Cod, Western Massachusetts, Southern Florida and Larimer County, Colo.-appeared at the salary council meeting Tuesday to make their case for inclusion in higher locality pay areas.

The officials from the three rejected areas were not pleased.

"We don't stick out like a sore thumb, but we sure look like a swollen wrist," said Bruce Sylvia, a Western Massachusetts representative. Federal Salary Council Chairman Sam Wallace encouraged the officials to reapply for higher locality rates next year.

But many of the officials have been appearing before the council or submitting written requests for years. Officials draft extensive documentation showing why federal workers in their towns or counties should be given higher pay rates, and they often drum up support on Capitol Hill for their requests. Officials also take personal leave to appear at the council's meetings.