Lawmakers, judges and the governor are getting a raise

State lawmakers learned Wednesday they are getting a raise.

So will Gov. Jay Inslee

And even indicted state Auditor Troy Auditor will earn more this fall — if he returns to his job.

They all can thank the Washington Citizens’ Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials which approved pay hikes for state elected officials Wednesday morning.

Lawmakers, whose last pay hike came in 2008, will receive an 8 percent increase Sept. 1l and another 3 percent in September 2016. This will boost their annual pay from $42,106 to $46,839.

Leaders of the four caucuses earn more due to their added responsibilities. The Speaker of the House and Senate Majority Leader will make $55,738 while the House and Senate minority leaders will see their earnings rise to $51,288.

Commissioners also agreed to give 4 percent raises to the governor, secretary of state, attorney general and auditor, 5 percent to the superintendent of public instruction and lieutenant governor, 6 percent to the insurance commissioner, 7 percent to the commissioner of public lands and 12 percent to the treasurer.

There was no discussion whether to exclude the auditor’s job until the situation with Kelley is resolved.

Commissioner Sarah Mahoskey of Snohomish explained afterwards that the panel didn’t consider singling him out because their focus was always on the positions and not the people in them.

Commissioners approved 6 percent increases for all judges and added an extra 1.5 percent for the chief justice of the Supreme Court.

With the raise, Gov. Jay Inslee will make $173,617 in 2016, up from $166,891 today. Chief Justice Barbara Madsen’s earnings will climb from $172,531 to $185,661.

The raises can be stopped with a referendum.

Once the adopted wage schedule is filed with the Secretary of State’s Office, a voter would have 90 days to collect and turn in at least 123,186 valid signatures of registered voter. If successful, the issue could be on the ballot this fall.