State officials are scheduled for a raise. Now is not the time to keep it | Editorial

With the economy tanking and a record number of people out of work, now is not the time for Washington state’s elected leaders to receive a significant bump in pay.

But those salary hikes are scheduled to happen in July regardless, revealing a terrible flaw in the system that determines wages for state legislators, judges and elected state leaders like the governor and attorney general.

It’s now very apparent the process is in need of an update.

Back in 1986, voters approved a constitutional amendment authorizing the creation of an independent, citizen commission tasked with setting salaries for state elected officials.

The purpose behind the move was to remove politics from the process and keep lawmakers from setting their own pay, which in theory sounds like a great idea.

The problem is the commission approves wages for a biennium, and it is not allowed to decrease that amount once the pay schedule is set.

So here we are in the second year of a two-year cycle, and by law the salary increases must be paid even though the state is in an economic tailspin thanks to the coronavirus lockdown.

Last month, 39 state legislators signed off on a letter to the Washington Citizens’ Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials asking it to recognize the “changed reality” this year and reconsider the July pay increase.

“At a time when so many are unemployed, it makes no sense for elected officials to be granted a raise,” the letter said. Those who signed it include Sen. Sharon Brown, R-Kennewick; Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville; Sen. Jim Honeyford, R-Sunnyside; Rep. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick; Rep. Brad Klippert, R-Kennewick and Rep. Bill Jenkin, R-Prosser.

But the commission responded by saying it has no authority to alter or freeze salaries now that they’ve been set.

This is a conundrum that should be fixed as soon as possible. Flexibility is needed in times of economic crisis.

As it stands now, most state lawmakers will be getting the second half of their raise in a matter of weeks. Their salary went from $48,731 to $52,766 last summer, and it is scheduled to be bumped up again to $56,881 on July 1.

Gov. Jay Inslee’s salary went from $177,107 to $182,179, and is scheduled to go to $187,353 on July 1.

In total, the citizens’ commission sets salaries for 498 elected state officials, with the majority in the judicial system — including the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Superior Courts and District Courts.

The citizens’ commission is made up of 17 unpaid members who are randomly selected by the Secretary of State from registered voters — one from each of the state’s 10 congressional districts. The other seven are chosen jointly by the president of the state Senate and the Speaker of the House, and represent business, higher education, law, organized labor and human resources.

In 2018 when it set the pay raises for our elected leaders, the commission compared their salaries to those serving in other parts of the country. It also held public hearings on the proposal throughout the state, so the process included public input.

The problem with paying elected leaders too little is that the positions may not attract the best people.

Since Washington state has a part-time Legislature, it means people who serve typically have another source of income.

If the legislative pay is too low, we risk limiting those who run for office to retirees or those who are wealthy enough to survive the several months of little income.

Setting a realistic salary schedule for elected officials helps bring a wider variety of people to the state Legislature, with varying backgrounds, interests and lifestyles.

This philosophy makes sense. But in light of the current economic strife, there should be a way for scheduled pay raises to be stopped when it is clear the state cannot afford them.

Since there is not, we recommend that for now lawmakers and other elected leaders who receive a raise donate it back to the state general fund or to charity.

We imagine most lawmakers aren’t keen on receiving the extra money when they know so many other citizens are struggling to make it through the shutdown.

While the money itself won’t add up to making a huge difference in state revenue, the gesture would go a long way in helping people believe their elected leaders are willing to share in their suffering.

This story was originally published May 27, 2020 at 12:35 PM.