Senate Greenlights $48,000 Pay Raise for Legislators

Sen. John Kavanagh is advocating for a measure that would ask Arizona voters to adjust lawmakers’ salaries to keep pace with inflation. His proposal, SCR1003, seeks to not only establish future inflationary adjustments for the current $24,000 salary but also retroactively apply these adjustments back to the last voter-approved salary increase in 1998.

If passed, Kavanagh’s measure could potentially double lawmakers’ salaries to around $48,000 right from the start, reflecting inflation over the past 27 years. Kavanagh argues this increase is warranted given lawmakers have not seen a pay raise in nearly three decades.

“Voters intended for us to have that salary in 1998,” Kavanagh stated. He believes it is crucial to address the diminishing purchasing power of the current salary, which he estimates has decreased to roughly $11,000 due to inflation since the last raise.

The Arizona Constitution restricts legislators from setting their own salaries. Instead, the Commission on Salaries for Elective State Officers meets biennially to recommend salary adjustments, contingent upon voter approval. Past recommendations have included raises from $30,000 to $36,000; all were rejected by voters. Consequently, the base salary remains at $24,000.

Former Governor Jan Brewer halted the appointment of commission members for four years, stating it was inappropriate to discuss salary raises during “difficult times.” In 2014, a proposed increase to $35,000 faced significant opposition, garnering only 32% approval from voters.

Kavanagh believes his proposal could eliminate the need for future commission recommendations, providing a straightforward solution that adjusts salaries for inflation without requiring continuous voter input. However, the retroactive nature of SCR1003 may be contentious, particularly as voters previously rejected lower salary proposals.

Currently, the proposal has received preliminary approval in the Senate. It will require a roll-call vote before moving to the House, where it will not need Governor Katie Hobbs’ approval to appear on the ballot.

Legislative pay has been a bipartisan issue. The role is technically part-time but often extends beyond regular sessions. This has made it challenging for some lawmakers to balance the demands of public office with personal employment.

Recent news highlighted Senator Eva Burch’s decision to resign, citing difficulties in balancing her legislative duties with her work in healthcare. She emphasized the strain of inadequate pay in fulfilling legislative responsibilities.

Kavanagh contends that the current salary structure’s shortcomings mean the public mood can greatly influence pay decisions, independent of legislators’ qualifications or workloads. His plan aims to decouple legislative salaries from fluctuating public sentiment.

Drawing parallels with automatic adjustments for the state’s minimum wage, Kavanagh expressed confidence that voters would support a similar approach for legislative salaries. In past votes, Arizonans have chosen to increase the minimum wage in response to inflation.

A brief history of legislative pay highlights the significant changes over the years, starting from just $7 a day in 1912 to the current salary of $24,000 approved in 1998.

This history underscores the ongoing debate around adequate compensation for public officials and their ability to serve effectively while also maintaining financial stability.