JUNEAU — The Alaska Senate unanimously on Monday rejected a pay elevate that had been advisable for the governor, lieutenant governor and the heads of state businesses, with the way forward for the unbiased fee that makes these wage suggestions itself being known as into query.
Senate President Gary Stevens, a Kodiak Republican, stated the State Officers Compensation Fee — made up of 5 members appointed by the governor — has failed in its responsibility to meaningfully debate pay for legislators.
“I believe we simply want to surrender on that fee,” Stevens stated. “They’ve by no means finished their job or checked out issues significantly.”
Beneath state regulation, the fee’s suggestions develop into efficient 60 days after they’re launched, until lawmakers move a invoice to reject them. The deadline for the Home to dam the proposed pay raises is March 25.
Home Speaker Cathy Tilton, R-Wasilla, stated the Home has been centered on different points, like ending the subcommittee evaluation strategy of the finances. However she stated it was her understanding that the Home would additionally wish to reject the fee’s suggestions.
Legislators have lingering frustration with the fee from final yr. After heated debate, commissioners advisable that legislators’ day by day expense funds, generally known as per diem, be slashed from $307 per day to $100 per day and that their salaries be raised from $50,400 to $64,000 per yr to partially compensate.
The outcome would have been a gross minimize of about $11,000 for a legislator who requests expense funds for daily of a 121-day common session, from $87,547 to $76,100. Lawmakers wanted solely three days to unanimously move a invoice final yr rejecting the minimize.
“I believe we should be pretty compensated,” Stevens stated, noting that it may be significantly financially tough for lawmakers with younger households to serve in Juneau and keep one other dwelling of their districts. Legislators’ compensation packages haven’t been adjusted since 2010.
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Latest fee conferences have been “contentious” and “unproductive,” stated Larry Persily, who’s a member of the fee and the proprietor of The Wrangell Sentinel.
The fee agreed in November to a 2% pay bump for the governor, lieutenant governor and commissioners, representing a easy value of residing adjustment. However there was no “significant” discussions about legislators’ compensation packages, Persily stated.
“There was nothing anyplace near an settlement, a lot much less a sign of an settlement on the horizon for legislators’ pay,” Persily stated.
The fee was established to make selections about pay for legislators via a 2008 invoice. That position was partly established so lawmakers wouldn’t have to vote to extend their very own salaries.
The fee advisable in November that the governor’s wage needs to be elevated from $145,000 per yr to $176,000 per yr. The lieutenant governor’s wage would rise to roughly $140,000 per yr and commissioners’ salaries would enhance to $168,000.
Sitka Republican Sen. Bert Stedman stated on the Senate flooring that the suggestions had been rejected as a result of they didn’t embrace a “complete plan” to inspire the “brightest Alaskans to public service.” After the 19-0 vote rejecting the suggestions, Stedman stated the wage fee is “rotten with politics.”
Dunleavy appointee Kurt Olson, a former Republican state legislator who chairs the fee, didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark. Lee Cruise, one other Dunleavy appointee who has been probably the most vocally against wage will increase for legislators, didn’t instantly reply, both.
Stevens stated he had heard considerations from Gov. Mike Dunleavy concerning the competitiveness of present salaries for commissioners. Stevens stated lawmakers may debate laws to extend their very own salaries and people of commissioners, as a substitute of via the unbiased wage fee.