Pay Raise Suggested for Interim N.D. Workers’ Comp Director

The interim director of North Dakota’s workers compensation agency should get a 3.4 percent pay raise when he returns to his former job, some board members believe.

The performance evaluation committee of the Workforce Safety and Insurance agency voted Wednesday to recommend the increase for John Halvorson. It must be approved by the full board to take effect. It is scheduled to meet March 6.

Halvorson has been the agency’s interim director since Dec. 6, when his predecessor, Sandy Blunt, was forced out. Before then, Halvorson served as WSI’s chief of employer services, making $109,188 annually.

Should the board approve his 3.4 percent pay rise, Halvorson’s annual salary would increase to $112,900 once he returns to his former job. He is being paid $166,719 annually as the agency’s interim director, and the proposed increase does not apply to that salary.

Three members of WSI’s 11-member board of directors make up the performance evaluation committee. They are Mark Jackson, Mark Gjovig and Roberta Ripplinger, who is the chairwoman.