Rep. Steve Lebsock of Thornton, a candidate for state treasurer, is criticizing Gov. John Hickenlooper’s plan to boost the state employees’ retirement plan by asking them to pay more.

In the request rolled out last week, Hickenlooper asked the legislature to put $94.7 million into next year’s $30.5 billion budget for state employees’ compensation package. That includes a 3 percent across-the-board pay raise.

But to beef up a retirement fund that’s in trouble, employees would be asked to pay 2 percent more into their Public Employees Retirement Association plan starting in 2019. The governor’s request to lawmakers – who write and pass a budget he will be asked to sign next spring – also lowers cost-of-living raises for current and future retirees from 2 percent to 1.25 percent.

“The governor’s PERA plan literally takes food off the table of retired teachers and retired state workers,” Lebsock said in his Sunday e-mail. “Cutting the proposed cost-of-living raises which are a modest 2 percent today and slashing it down to 1.25 percent is a slap in the face to our retired teachers and our state’s retirees who have worked hard and deserve a legislature, a governor and elected officials who will fight for them.

“I will do everything I can to pass and support meaningful PERA legislation. A shared sacrifice approach, similar to what the PERA board has recommended is worth considering. I will not allow the governor to slash cost of living raises for seniors and retirees. A shared sacrifice approach, protecting the pension, making sure PERA is fully funded and sustainable over the next 30 years and preserving a reasonable cost-of-living raise for retired workers is the way to go.”

The governor’s office did not immediately respond to an e-mail about Lebsock’s remarks Sunday morning. (We’ll update this story if Hick has something to say about this.)

It’s not surprising for a candidate to become the state’s banker to call out a spending plan, but it’s more interesting when it’s a Democratic candidate calling out a Democratic governor.

Lebsock faces Rep. Dave Young of Greeley and Bernard Douthit in the Democratic primary. Six candidates are in the GOP primary: Brett Barkey, Rep, Justin Everett, Brita Horn, Rep. Polly Lawrence, Sen. Kevin Lundberg and Brian Watson.