Colorado’s next governor deserves a pay raise. Indeed, it’s well overdue.
Eight years ago, state lawmakers raised the governor’s salary to $90,000. Since then, Gov. Bill Owens hasn’t received even a cost-of-living increase.
We urge the legislature to increase the governor’s salary, and that of the other statewide officeholders, both as a matter of fairness and as a means to ensure that candidates from any income group can aspire to statewide office.
When we talked to the governor about the salary picture, he said he plans to ask lawmakers this spring to approve increases for his successor as well as lieutenant governor, secretary of state, treasurer and attorney general. All their current salaries are below the regional and national averages for their jobs. (Not to mention the obvious, which is that equivalent jobs in the private sector pay much more.)
Owens’ suggestion will be met with great resistance among statehouse leaders who worked hard last fall to pass Referendum C, which freed up millions that otherwise would have been refunded to taxpayers. They want to be as frugal as possible with the taxpayers’ money, as they should. However, we urge them to be open to these discussions. If action isn’t taken this year, it could be another eight years before it’s broached again.
Colorado is the nation’s 22nd-largest state. The governor’s salary ranks 44th. Our borders touch seven other states. All except Nebraska pay their governors more than we do. Utah, Wyoming, New Mexico, Kansas and Oklahoma? They’re all states with smaller budgets than Colorado, and fewer people. Only Arizona has a larger budget and population.
Elected leaders are among the very few in this country who can set their own pay, so the process can be a political bear trap. By seeking increases only for the governor and the other statewide elected offices, however, lawmakers won’t have nearly as much pressure on them as they’ll have if seeking to hike their own pay. (That, by the way, should probably be the next discussion. Colorado’s part-time legislators earn $30,000 for their work, but for many of them it’s more than a full-time job. As it is, the state doesn’t adequately staff their offices, forcing some lawmakers to accept cash donations and in-kind gifts from lobbyists and others to make up the difference.)
Colorado’s governor makes decisions and appointments that touch all our lives and the prosperity of the state. The paycheck should reflect the duties. Surely in 2007 it should be a six-figure salary in the ballpark of New Mexico’s governor’s, at $110,000. (For perspective, consider that members of Congress are paid $158,000 and receive regular cost-of-living bumps.)
Former Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell was quoted speaking with great bravado when he decided not to run for governor this year. “Very frankly, a governor’s seat in this state is very unappealing job. It’s long hours, low pay, high stress, there’s no advancement and you’re under constant attack.”
Long hours, high stress, constant attack – they come with the territory. As for the low pay, the next governor should get the going rate.
