State Treasurer Janet Cowell has given five senior employees raises worth roughly 10 percent of their salary during the past year, as first reported by the state government newsletter, "The Insider."

Most state employees did not receive raises during the fiscal year in which the raises were granted. However, a law passed in 2011 allows state agencies to make adjustments if a worker takes on more responsibility or there are other factors that merit the changes. The five employees, their raises and effective dates were:

• Investment Director Susan Carter; from $210,000 to $230,000, effective 12/1/2011
• Investment Director Jeff Smith;  from $210,000 to $230,000, effective 12/1/2011
• Portfolio Manager Bradley Creel; from $82,000 to $90,200, effective 8/11/2011
• Portfolio Manager Arlene Jones-McCalla; from $85,000 to $93,000, effective 8/11/2011
• Attorney Joyce Rutledge, $109,540 to $120,494, effective 3/1/2012

Julia Vail, a spokeswoman for Cowell, confirmed The Insider story but declined to say why the raises were granted.

"The specific reasons for each salary increase would be part of the confidential data in the employee’s personnel file, unless the salary increase was attributable to a promotion. None of these salary increases were attributable to a promotion," Vail said. "The Department can confirm, however, that the salary increases would not have been approved unless the situation fell within one or more exceptions to the general salary freeze."

Those exceptions can be found in the 2011 budget bill, which says salary increases can be made for "reallocations or promotions, in‑range adjustments for job change, career progression adjustments for demonstrated competencies, or any other adjustment related to an increase in job duties or responsibilities, none of which are subject to the salary freeze otherwise provided by this Part. All other salary increases are prohibited."