[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 157 (Tuesday, August 16, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48210-48211]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-16225]


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OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT


January 2005 Pay Adjustments

AGENCY: Office of Personnel Management.

ACTION: Notice.

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[[Page 48211]]

SUMMARY: The President adjusted the rates of basic pay and locality 
payments for certain categories of Federal employees effective in 
January 2005. This notice documents those pay adjustments for the 
public record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carey Johnston, Center for Pay and 
Performance Policy, Division for Strategic Human Resources Policy, 
Office of Personnel Management; (202) 606-2858; FAX (202) 606-0824; or 
e-mail to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 30, 2004, the President signed 
Executive Order 13368 (70 FR 1147, January 5, 2005), which implemented 
the January 2005 pay adjustment. The President made these adjustments 
consistent with Public Law 108-447, December 8, 2004, which authorized 
an overall average pay increase of 3.5 percent for General Schedule 
(GS) employees.
    Schedule 1 of Executive Order 13368 provides the rates for the 2005 
General Schedule and reflects a 2.5 percent across-the-board increase. 
Executive Order 13368 also includes the percentage amounts of the 2005 
locality payments. (See Section 5 and Schedule 9 of Executive Order 
13368).
    The publication of this notice satisfies the requirement in section 
5(b) of Executive Order 13368 that the Office of Personnel Management 
(OPM) publish appropriate notice of the 2005 locality payments in the 
Federal Register.
    GS employees receive locality payments under 5 U.S.C. 5304. 
Locality payments apply in the 48 contiguous States and the District of 
Columbia. In 2005, locality payments ranging from 11.72 percent to 
26.39 percent apply to GS employees in 32 locality pay areas. These 
2005 locality pay percentages, which replaced the locality pay 
percentages that were applicable in 2004, became effective on the first 
day of the first pay period beginning on or after January 1, 2005. An 
employee's locality-adjusted annual rate of pay is computed by 
increasing his or her scheduled annual rate of basic pay (as defined in 
5 U.S.C. 5302(8) and 5 CFR 531.602) by the applicable locality pay 
percentage. (See 5 CFR 531.604 and 531.605.)
    Executive Order 13368 establishes the new Executive Schedule, which 
incorporates the 2.5 percent increase required under 5 U.S.C. 5318 
(rounded to the nearest $100). By law, Executive Schedule officials are 
not authorized to receive locality payments.
    Executive Order 13368 establishes the range of rates of basic pay 
for senior executives in the Senior Executive Service (SES), as 
established pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 5382. The minimum rate of basic pay 
for the SES may not be less than the minimum rate payable under 5 
U.S.C. 5376 for senior-level positions ($107,550 in 2005), and the 
maximum rate of basic pay may not exceed the rate for level III of the 
Executive Schedule ($149,200 in 2005). The maximum rate of the SES rate 
range will increase to level II of the Executive Schedule ($162,100 in 
2005) for SES members covered by performance appraisal systems that are 
certified under 5 U.S.C. 5307(d) as making meaningful distinctions 
based on relative performance. By law, SES members are not authorized 
to receive locality payments. Agencies with certified performance 
appraisal systems in 2005 for senior executives and/or senior-level 
(SL) and scientific or professional (ST) positions must also apply a 
higher aggregate limitation on pay--up to the Vice President's salary 
($208,100 in 2005).
    The Executive order adjusted the rates of basic pay for 
administrative law judges (ALJs) by 2.5 percent (rounded to the nearest 
$100). The maximum rate of basic pay for ALJs is set by law at the rate 
for level IV of the Executive Schedule, which is now $140,300. (See 5 
U.S.C. 5372).
    The rates of basic pay for members of Contract Appeals Boards are 
calculated as a percentage of the rate for level IV of the Executive 
Schedule. (See 5 U.S.C. 5372a.) Therefore, these rates of basic pay 
were increased by approximately 2.5 percent. Also, the maximum rate of 
basic pay for SL/ST positions was increased by approximately 2.5 
percent (to $140,300) because it is tied to the rate for level IV of 
the Executive Schedule. The minimum rate of basic pay for SL/ST 
positions is equal to 120 percent of the minimum rate of basic pay for 
GS-15 and thus was increased by 2.5 percent (to $107,550). (See 5 
U.S.C. 5376).
    On December 13, 2004, the President's Pay Agent extended the 2005 
locality-based comparability payments to certain categories of non-GS 
employees. The Governmentwide categories include employees in SL/ST 
positions, ALJs, and Contract Appeals Board members. The maximum 
locality rate of pay for these employees is the rate for level III of 
the Executive Schedule ($149,200 in 2005).
    OPM published ``Salary Tables for 2005'' (OPM Doc. 124-48-6) in 
June 2005. This publication provides complete salary tables 
incorporating the 2005 pay adjustments, information on general pay 
administration matters, locality pay area definitions, Internal Revenue 
Service withholding tables, and other related information. The rates of 
pay shown in this publication are the official rates of pay for 
affected employees and are hereby incorporated as part of this notice. 
You may purchase copies of ``Salary Tables for 2005'' from the 
Government Printing Office (GPO) by calling (202) 512-1800 (outside the 
DC area: 1-866-512-1800) or FAX (202) 512-2250. You may order copies 
directly from GPO on the Internet at http://bookstore.gpo.gov. In 
addition, you can find pay tables on OPM's Internet Web site at http://www.opm.gov/oca/payrates/index.asp.

Office of Personnel Management.
Linda M. Springer,
Director.
[FR Doc. 05-16225 Filed 8-15-05; 8:45 am]
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