Thursday was sort of a finish line for long-suffering state workers since it was the last day that the State Controller's Office could make mass changes to July payroll.
That means formerly furloughed state workers on Aug. 1 will receive paychecks reflecting full hours and pay for the first time in 17 months. The August checks for straight time worked will be nearly 15 percent more than those issued on July 1.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger lifted furloughs on June 30. The next day he issued instructions to withhold state worker pay to the federal minimum. A court last week refused to force Controller John Chiang to comply this month. A hearing before Sacramento Superior Court Judge Patrick Marlette will likely be scheduled for late August, but it's likely that will come after the payroll change deadline for Sept. 1 checks.
How long will it last? It's not clear what will happen with the minimum-wage court fight, so let's set that aside.
Several unions have tentatively agreed to contracts that require their members take unpaid leave days. The deals also include higher employee contributions to their own retirement accounts. Employee health costs are going up next year for many state workers.
And each day that the budget impasse drags on, the likelihood of renewed furloughs or layoffs increases, the administration has said.
But for now, a respite for more than 200,000 state workers who have endured a tumultuous, unprecedented period in California government history.
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