Adjustments authorized; limitations, restrictions

Each appropriate authority may make adjustments for their respective excluded employees subject to the following guidelines and limitations: (1) The compensation of excluded employees, whose pay is presently limited or fixed by legislative action, or prescribed by a salary commission, shall not be adjusted under this chapter and shall continue to be limited or fixed by the respective legislative body or salary commission; (2) The compensation of excluded employees exempt from civil service coverage, whose pay is set at the discretion of the appointing authority, shall continue to be adjusted at the discretion of the appointing authority from funds allowed for this purpose; (3) Any adjustment made for excluded civil service employees shall be consistent with the merit principle and shall not diminish any rights provided under chapter 76; (4) For excluded employees under the same classification systems as employees within collective bargaining units, adjustments shall be not less than those provided under collective bargaining agreements for employees hired on a comparable basis; (5) For excluded employees other than those under paragraph (4), adjustments shall, to the extent practicable, uniformly apply to every excluded employee within a homogeneous grouping, such as, cabinet members or managerial employees, to ensure fairness. This does not preclude variable adjustments based on performance or other job criteria and specific adjustments warranted based on the nature of work performed or working conditions; and (6) No adjustment shall be made in benefits provided under chapter 88 unless specifically authorized by that chapter, or with respect to any other matter that the legislature may specifically prohibit or limit by law.