By The Associated Press
OLYMPIA — Gov. Jay Inslee and most statewide elected officials and lawmakers won’t get a pay raise this year, but judges will see a salary hike under the salary schedule adopted by the Washington Citizen’s Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials.
Inslee’s salary remains at $166,891 a year, the same amount that the governor’s pay has been since September 2008.
“It’s appropriate for these times when we’re doing everything we can to balance the budget,” Inslee spokeswoman Jaime Smith told The Olympian newspaper. “The commission to take into account all the factors in setting the salaries. That’s their job,” she said.
The commission was created in 1986 by a constitutional amendment to set the pay for statewide elected officials, judges and legislators.
The 17 unpaid commissioners include 10 people selected at random from voter registration rolls. Others are chosen to represent business, labor and other interests.
They consider how much elected officials elsewhere are paid for similar work. The commission’s decision is final.
Annual changes take effect Sept. 1.
Other changes in the schedule the commission adopted Wednesday include:
— Pay for state Supreme Court justices goes up $3,284 to $167,505.
— Pay for Court of Appeals judges goes up $3,127 to $159,455.
— Pay for Superior Court judges goes up $2,977 to $151,809.
— Pay for District Court judges goes up $2,834 to $144,544.
— Lt. Gov. Brad Owen’s salary increases $3,052 to $97,000.
— Treasurer Jim McIntire’s pay goes up $8,050 to $125,000.
— Lands Commissioner Peter Goldmark’s pay goes up $2,432 to $124,050.
— State schools chief Randy Dorn’s pay also goes up $2,432 to $124,050.
Like the governor’s pay, the salary is frozen for the other officials elected statewide in Washington.
Attorney General Bob Ferguson stays at $151,718, Secretary of State Kim Wyman stays at $116,950, Auditor Troy Kelley stays at $116,950, and Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler stays at $116,950.
The commission also froze legislators’ salaries.
House Speaker Frank Chopp and Senate Majority Leader Rodney Tom will continue to be paid $50,106.
Minority leaders and rank-and-file legislators remain at $46,106. Lawmakers receive additional per diem pay during legislative sessions.
The commission sets salaries for two years at a time, and the schedule for September 2014 follows this year’s trend.
Annual salaries for the governor and most statewide officials will remain frozen, except for the schools superintendent, who will get a raise. Judges will get another round of raises, and salaries for legislators will remain the same.
