Pay raises scarce for state execs
Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., who also didn't get a raise from the Legislature, said, "We didn't ask for significant raises for Cabinet members. However, it's important to keep their salaries at the same (increased) levels as all other state workers."
 | Deseret Morning News graphic Pay rates of selected state employees Requires Adobe Acrobat. |
Rep. Dave Litvack, D-Salt Lake, a member of Rules, said he viewed the quick vote by majority Republicans to kill the raises as "if not in direct retaliation, then as a clear vote of displeasure for the governor forcing (GOP lawmakers') hands on the $2 million for Medicaid dental — kind of a 'Why should we reward you?' "
In their 2006 general session, lawmakers gave rank-and-file state workers 3.5 percent pay raises come July 1, the beginning of the new fiscal year. And by law, legislators set pay ranges for the governor to work within when determining the salaries for top executives. It's that bill that would have expanded those pay ranges that died both in the general session and in the special session.
Huntsman could still have given top bosses the same 3.5 percent hikes as other employees. But most of the executives are near the top of their legislative-set pay ranges and don't have room for the approved 3.5 percent, according to salary data obtained by the Deseret Morning News through the GRAMA public records law.
For example, former state Sen. Leonard Blackham — a Moroni turkey farmer — is being paid $90,251 a year to be Utah's agriculture commissioner, the GRAMA report shows. Top scale for the commissioner is $90,600, current law says. Huntsman can now give Blackham only a 0.38 percent pay raise.
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