Gov. Inslee, other elected officials received pay increases

OLYMPIA — State lawmakers and the governor got raises this month.

So, too, did the justices of the state Supreme Court.

Their wages went up Sept. 1, the second and final installment of pay hikes approved last year by the Washington Citizens’ Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials.

Legislators, who got an 8 percent raise in 2015, received another 3 percent boost this month and now earn $46,839 a year. Caucus leaders are paid more. The speaker of the house and senate majority leader now make $55,738 a year while the minority leaders in each chamber make $51,288.

Gov. Jay Inslee received a 1 percent increase to push his annual salary to $173,617. In 2015, he collected a 3 percent raise.

The 16-member commission also approved higher salaries for eight statewide executive positions and Superior Court, District Court and Court of Appeals judges.

After the governor, the next highest paid statewide elected officer is Attorney General Bob Ferguson, who now makes $159,395.

Supreme Court Chief Justice Barbara Madsen tops the pay scale for the judicial branch at $185,661. Justices of the court earn $183, 021.

Every executive and judicial position received a 1 percent raise, though some received more.

For example, the salary of the state treasurer went up 5 percent for the second straight year based on what the commission deemed increased responsibilities. That position now pays $140,438.

The commission includes residents from the state’s 10 congressional districts plus representatives of business, organized labor and higher education. Also represented are the legal and human resources professions.

Over the course of several months, they discussed the responsibilities of each job, reviewed salary data of elected officials in other states and conducted hearings.

Commissioners acted in May 2015 to hike salaries on Sept. 1, 2015, and then a year later.

For legislators, it marked the first bump in pay since 2008. But the decision of commissioners to give them an 11 percent increase over the two-year span stirred some strong reactions.

Commissioners decided as lawmakers were struggling in special session to agree on a new state budget. One of the major sticking points was the size of salary hikes for state workers and teachers. In the end, the spending plan adopted by the Legislature and signed by Inslee provided raises for most workers totalling 4.8 percent.

Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @dospueblos.

What they earn

On Sept. 1, state lawmakers received a pay raise. So, too, did nine statewide executives, including the governor, as well as justices on the state Supreme Court and all lower court judges.

Here are the new annual salaries by position:

Legislator — $46,839

Speaker of the House — $55,738

Senate Majority Leader — $55,738

House Minority Leader — $51,288

Senate Minority Leader — $51,288

Governor — $173,617

Lieutenant Governor — $101,889

Secretary of State — $121,663

Treasurer — $140,438

Auditor — $121,663

Attorney General — $159,395