This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The Utah House has endorsed giving the next governor a 36 percent pay hike.
It voted 57-16 to approve HB368, and sent it to the Senate. It would raise the pay of the governor from the current $109,000 to $150,000. It would take effect on Jan. 1, 2017 — after the next gubernatorial election.
The bill would also raise the salaries of the attorney general, lieutenant governor, auditor and treasurer. Currently, they all make $104,400. The bill would increase the salary of the attorney general to $142,500. Pay for the others would rise to $135,000.
Rep. Brad Wilson, R-Kaysville, said those state leaders have had no significant raise since 2001, despite recommendations for raises from an independent salary commission.
He said if the governor had received raises in that time that matched inflation since 2001, the governor would be making the proposed $150,000 now.
Rep. Sue Duckworth, D-Magna, opposed it saying "36 percent is a huge amount," and "considering what we are proposing for our public employees, I really feel this should be amended."
— Lee Davidson