After reviewing current compensation of public officials, a Special Advisory Commission suggested Monday that public officials in Massachusetts be awarded increased salaries.
The seven-person Commission recommended that the Massachusetts Legislature reform the process of calculating compensation and increase the salaries of several officials, according to a Monday press release.
“We recommend that the Legislature strongly consider implementing important reforms to the process of calculating compensation, while at the same time making appropriate increases in compensation levels for the Governor and other elected officials to more adequately reflect their responsibilities,” said Commission Chairman Ira Jackson in the release.
The Commission estimated that the governor deserves a $250,000-a-year package, including a $65,000 housing allowance, and legislative leaders should be earning $175,000 annually, according to the release.
Jackson said in a report that the commission’s recommendations were guided by a thorough review of data comparing Massachusetts with other states, the release stated.
“We have a strong desire to ensure that the state attracts and retains highly talented individuals regardless of means or geography and the principle that officials should be fairly compensated based on the significant responsibilities of the offices they hold,” Jackson said in the release.
Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick said in a statement that he appreciates the work of the Commission.
“While I have no personal stake in the changes and believe people don’t run for public office for the salary, I understand the demands of the jobs and agree the compensation should be updated,” he said.
However, Patrick said he is concerned with the $700,000 budget shortfall that the Commonwealth faces.
“I will not approve legislation to change the compensation of public officials unless the legislature first sends me an acceptable budget solve,” he said in the statement.
Massachusetts Gov.-elect Charlie Baker said he is opposed to a raised compensation and that he would veto a housing stipend.
“The state faces enormous fiscal problems. We are dealing with a deficit, and here we are having a discussion about pay raises,” he said in a Dec. 1 press conference held at his Brighton headquarters.
Baker said he met many people during his campaign who said they have to live within the budget that their salary assigns and accordingly distribute their earnings into things like childcare, groceries, rent, electricity and college.
“Many people complained to me that the state government keeps raising their taxes and never seem to think their pockets are going to be empty,” he said. “It is only fair that the state government plays by the same rules. We all have a budget we have to live within.”
The Commission also recommended raising the salaries of the speaker of the house and Massachusetts Senate president from $102,000 to $175,000, as well as boosting the salaries of all the constitutional offices, the release stated.
House Speaker Robert DeLeo has yet to release a statement on the topic.
“Speaker DeLeo thanks the members of the Special Advisory Commission for their hard work and extensive analysis,” said Whitley Ferguson, a representative for DeLeo, in an email. “The report is now being reviewed.”
Several residents said that while Boston officials do their work well, compensation should be determined by state precedent, rather than a national one.
Pablo Juan, 34, of Back Bay, said public officials should have increased salaries.
“In addition to the large amount of work they do for the state, they are also affected by the increasing cost of living. If we want them to be motivated to provide good service to the community, they need to be well compensated,” he said.
Maria Moran, 48, of East Boston, said she questions what justifies increased compensation for extra work.
“Based on what other states provide their officials with is a bad reason to change what our state’s officials deserve,” she said. “Unless there is a tangible outcome we would have from raising their salaries, I don’t think that it is necessary.”
Barbara Rossi, 54, of East Boston, said our state laws should not be dictated by what is done on a national level.
“With policies in the U.S., we have the freedom to decide from state to state what we want to see in the government,” she said. “Basing a raised compensation on a national standard is not right.”
