DES MOINES (AP) - Contract negotiations are under way between Gov. Chet Culver's office and state employee unions as most union employees ask taxpayers to boost their salaries 5 percent in each of the next two years.

That's according to a copyright story in Friday's The Des Moines Register.

As Iowa struggles with an economic downtown and major budget shortfalls, state officials have responded to the union requests for salary increases, in most cases, with a zero percent counteroffer.

Officials estimate that it costs the state $32.2 million for each 1 percent increase for union employees.

Union officials and state leaders working on the negotiations have declined to comment.