OPM proposes new, expanded locality pay areas
The Office of Personnel Management published a proposed rule that would establish 13 new locality pay areas, as well as expand a number of existing areas.
The Office of Personnel Management published a proposed rule that would establish 13 new locality pay areas, as well as add locations to 21 existing areas.
According to the proposed rule, published in the June 1 Federal Register, the 13 new proposed areas include Albany-Schenectady, N.Y.; Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, N.M.; Austin-Round Rock, Texas; Charlotte-Concord, N.C.-S.C.; Colorado Springs, Colo.; Davenport-Moline, Iowa-Ill.; Harrisburg-York-Lebanon, Pa.; Laredo, Texas; Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, Mo.-Kan.; Las Vegas-Henderson, N.V.-Ariz.; Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, Fla.; St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington, Mo.-Ill.; and Tucson-Nogales, Ariz. After the regulation goes into effect, pay rates for new areas would be set by the president at a later date.
The proposed rule also expands a number existing locality pay areas, Counties added to existing areas include:
Atlanta—Athens-Clarke County—Sandy Springs, Ga.—Clarke County, Ga.; Gordon County, Ga.; Jackson County, Ga.; Madison County, Ga.; Morgan County, Ga.; Oconee County, Ga.; and Oglethorpe County, Ga.
Boston-Worcester-Providence, Mass.-R.I.-N.H.-Conn.-Maine—Androscoggin County, Maine; Cumberland County, Maine; Sagadahoc County, Maine; and all portions of York County, Maine, that are currently in the “Rest of U.S.” locality pay area.
Chicago-Naperville, Ill.-Ind.-Wis.—Bureau County, Ill.; LaSalle County, Ill.; and Putnam County, Ill.
Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville, Ohi-Ky.-Ind.—Mason County, Ky., and Union County, Ind.
Cleveland-Akron-Canton, Ohio—Carroll County, Ohio; Erie County, Ohio; Huron County, Ohio; Stark County, Ohio; and Tuscarawas County, Ohio.
Columbus-Marion-Zanesville, Ohio—Guernsey County, Ohio; Hocking County, Ohio; Logan County, Ohio; Muskingum County, Ohio; and Perry County, Ohio.
Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas-Okla.—Bryan County, Okla.; Hopkins County, Texas; and Navarro County, Texas.
Dayton-Springfield-Sidney, Ohio—Shelby County, Ohio
Houston-The Woodlands, Texas—Trinity County, Texas; Washington County, Texas; and Wharton County, Texas.
Huntsville-Decatur-Albertville, Ala.—Marshall County, Ala..
Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, Ind.—Decatur County, Ind.; Delaware County, Ind.; and Jackson County, Ind..
Los Angeles-Long Beach, Calif.—All portions of Kern County, Calif., currently included in the “Rest of U.S.” locality pay area.
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Port St. Lucie, Fla.—Indian River County, Fla.; Martin County, Fla.; Okeechobee County, Fla.; and St. Lucie County, Fla..
Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, Wis.—Dodge County, Wis.; Jefferson County, Wis.; and Walworth County, Wis..
Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.-Wis.—Le Sueur County, Minn.; Mille Lacs County, Minn.; and Sibley County, Minn..
New York-Newark, N.Y.-N.J.-Conn.-Pa.—Carbon County, Pa.; Lehigh County, Pa.; and Northampton County, Pa..
Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, Pa.-Ohio-W.V.—Jefferson County, Ohio; Indiana County, Pa.; Brooke County, W.V.; and Hancock County, W.V.
Portland-Vancouver-Salem, Ore.-Wash.—Benton County, Ore.; Linn County, Ore.; and Cowlitz County, Wash.
Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, N.C.— Lee County, N.C.; Robeson County, N.C.; Scotland County, N.C.; Vance County, N.C.; and all portions of Granville County, N.C., currently included in the “Rest of U.S.” locality pay area.
Seattle-Tacoma, Wash.—Lewis County, Wash..
Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, D.C.-Md.-Va.-W.V.-Pa.—Dorchester County, Md.; Kent County, Md.; Talbot County, Md.; Franklin County, Pa.; and Rappahannock County, Va.
Two of counties—Kent County, Md., and Lancaster County, Pa.—currently are surrounded by higher-paying locality pay areas, so they were added to the locality pay area with the highest commuting interchange rate between the surrounded county and the basic locality pay area.
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