OLYMPIA – Whopping pay hikes ranging from 9 percent to 16 percent are in order for legislators, judges and the governor, a citizens’ panel recommended Wednesday.
“To some people, it’s going to seem outrageous,” said Ron Hopkins of Edmonds, who is chairman of the Washington Citizens’ Commission on Salaries of Elected Officials.
Commissioners endorsed a general wage hike of 5.2 percent for the next two years plus additional compensation to bring salaries of Washington’s elected officials closer to the level of earnings of their peers in states of similar population.
In a series of votes, the panel recommended:
* A 10.2 percent raise for the governor, the lieutenant governor, the secretary of state, the treasurer, the auditor, the attorney general and the insurance commissioner.
* A 12.2 percent raise for the superintendent of public instruction and the commissioner of public lands.
* Raises of 9.2 percent for Supreme Court and Court of Appeal justices and judges of district and superior courts.
* Raises of 16 percent for state legislators.
In dollars and cents, the change is impressive.
Gov. Chris Gregoire’s salary would rise from its present $150,995 to $166,891, while Attorney General Rob McKenna would enjoy elevated earnings of $151,718.
State legislators, now earning $36,311 a year, would pocket $42,106.
Lt. Gov. Brad Owen stands to gain the largest raise. Commissioners hiked his base salary and then awarded him a 10.2 percent raise. Owen would see his salary climb from $78,930 to $93,948.
Commissioners voted on separate motions covering each branch of government. The commission has 16 members. Nine are selected at random, one from each congressional district. The rest are appointed by legislative leaders.
Commissioners Katherine Wade-Easley of Woodinville, Donald Boggs of Puyallup and Scott Baxter of Spokane voted against the increases for all the executive positions.
Wade-Easley said she did so because it was too much for the lieutenant governor. Boggs did so because he said it was too little for the education post. Baxter could not be reached for comment.
The commission has been setting salaries every two years since its creation in 1987.
They deliberated nearly four hours Wednesday, ending two days of meetings in which several of the affected office-holders pitched them for a raise. Most cited growing responsibilities as the primary reason for a wage hike.
Four public hearings will be held on the recommendations starting Feb. 22 in Everett. Final action is slated for May.
“Any time there is a large increase there will be a large public outcry,” said commission member Donald Boggs from Puyallup. “We’ll see if everyone says we’re way off kilter.”
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