(RALEIGH) -- State employees could see a little more in their paycheck at some point in the near future. Dana Cope with the State Employees Association said his group believes the economic environment is favorable for a small raise.

"There's enough money that has been generated in our retirement plan to offer a very modest cost of living increase tied to the CPI (Consumer Price Index) index and the COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment).  It's a combination of good returns recently from the down trodden stock market, which has kind of come back," said Cope.

Cope added that dire predictions about mass layoffs of state workers because of the state budget have not come to pass. "Our members have seen very few times that they have actually lost a job.  I can't speak for everyone in education, but I can tell you that by in large it is nowhere near the thousands and thousands that have been reported."