Panel OKs 4 percent annual raise for state elected officials

BOISE – Top state elected officials could get a 4 percent annual pay raise for the next four years under a bill approved Tuesday by the House State Affairs Committee.

Earlier approved by the Senate, SB 1437 asked for 5 percent annual raises, but the committee amended it to bring it closer to the average 3 percent merit raise recently given to state employees.

“Five percent is over the limit,” said Rep. Carlos Bilbao, R-Emmett, who made the motion to reduce the raise.

Senate President Pro-Tem Bob Geddes, R-Soda Springs, the bill’s sponsor, said salaries for Idaho elected officials are below those in other states and don’t match even some of the highest state employee salaries in Idaho.

Under the state constitution, pay for the seven top elected officials is reviewed no more than once every four years.

“It would be irresponsible of the Legislature to go another four years without providing some increase,” Geddes said.

Rep. Phil Hart, R-Athol, supported the 5 percent proposal, saying even that wasn’t enough.

“If I could be king for a day, I would give them a far greater raise,” Hart said.

But other committee members pointed to the 3 percent raise given to Idaho’s state employees this session and said giving elected officials more isn’t fair.

“I realize our state executive officers are being paid low; so are our state employees,” said Rep. Anne Pasley-Stuart, D-Boise. “The fact that some of our other executive officers in other departments are making a great deal more doesn’t trouble me at all.”

Low salaries haven’t caused problems for finding people interested in the positions, as is evidenced by the number of people seeking office this election cycle, Pasley-Stuart said.

Twenty-six people have filed for the seven statewide offices, according to the secretary of state’s Web site.

Rep. Bert Stevenson, R-Rupert, agreed that 5 percent is too much.

“We all knew what this job pays when we took it,” Stevenson said. “We had a desire to be here.”

Pasley-Stuart made a motion to amend the bill to give a 2.9 percent increase over four years, the same amount state employees received over the last four years, but it was rejected 12-4.

The committee supported Bilbao’s motion of a 4 percent raise on a 13-3 vote.

“Since we are getting into a compromise position, I think it’s the compromise that I would feel comfortable with,” said Rep. Max Black, R-Boise.

Another motion from Rep. Mark Snodgrass, R-Meridian, to keep the raise at 5 percent failed 12-4.

Rep. Steve Smylie, R-Boise, abstained from voting, citing his campaign for superintendent of public instruction, one of the seven positions that would get pay increases under the bill.

If approved by the full Senate, the 4 percent raises would take effect January 2007.