Funding mechanism offered for potential bump in legislative salaries

Lawmakers who have long deferred to increase their own pay are now working on a mechanism to implement potential salary changes.

HF1890, sponsored by Rep. Bob Gunther (R-Fairmont), would create a standing appropriation for lawmakers’ pay based on recommendations from the Legislative Salary Council, the 16-member citizen board established through a constitutional amendment by voters in November. Approved Tuesday by the House State Government Finance Committee, the bill heads to the House Ways and Means Committee. It has no Senate companion.

Rep. Bob Gunther

Gunther said his bill “takes [the Legislature] out of finally voting for our salary increase or decrease, and that’s what we intended to do in the constitutional amendment.”

The salary council, which is scheduled to meet again Friday, will likely recommend a pay hike for legislators. In a committee exercise, its members recently hinted toward a salary range from $40,000 to $47,000, although its formal report will have finalized numbers by the end of March.

Both representatives and senators currently make $31,140 annually, plus a per diem ($66 for House members, $86 for senators). Legislative leaders can make an extra $12,456 annually. Most legislators contribute 5.5 percent of their salary to a defined contribution pension plan and the state contributes 6 percent.

The Legislature last increased its pay by 5 percent to current levels in January 1999.

More than 76 percent of Minnesotans approved the constitutional amendment launching the salary council.