Colorado Lawmakers Receive $400,000 Pay Hike Amid Budget Cuts

$400,000 — that's what Colorado lawmakers and statewide elected officials will cost taxpayers next year in pay hikes. This increase is set to kick in January 1, courtesy of a 2024 law that created an independent commission to examine and set salaries for elected officials.

The commission's report claims Colorado's current salaries are inadequate, citing data from the National Conference of State Legislatures. They recommend increasing most statewide offices to the 25th percentile of peer states — a move that will give the next attorney general a 45% raise to $170,000 a year. The state treasurer will see a 28% increase, the secretary of state a 26% bump, and the governor an 11% raise.

State lawmakers are in line for a 6% increase, which would bring their annual salary to nearly $51,000. This figure doesn't include the daily session per diem that lawmakers can claim, an additional $33,000 for those from outside the Denver area and $9,000 for Denver-area lawmakers.

State Rep. Naquetta Ricks, the main sponsor of the pay commission study, says the current salary structure favors people of means and wealth. She wants to make it possible for people from all walks of life to run for office. "I think people should get paid what they work for," Ricks said. However, she was incorrect in assuming that lawmakers had to approve the commission's recommendations; the salary increases will go into effect automatically.

This increase comes during a difficult fiscal year, with Colorado lawmakers slashing public services to close a $1.5 billion shortfall in the upcoming budget. "We are cutting everywhere, so it does feel a little tone deaf," said Kelly Mayr, a parent caregiver affected by the budget cuts.

The cost of these raises is worth considering - $400,000 is a significant amount, especially when compared to the budget cuts affecting other areas. Make no mistake, this will cost taxpayers $400,000. The short version: lawmakers and elected officials get a raise, while the rest of the state feels the pinch of budget cuts.

In Delta County, the upcoming salary bump for lawmakers is equivalent to what the county spends on road maintenance in a few months. For folks around here, it's a matter of prioritizing where their tax dollars go. The salary increases are set to kick in, but the question remains: what else could that $400,000 fund?

Read that again: the salary increases don't require a bill and will go into effect automatically. Worth watching is how the new compensation packages will affect the community, particularly in light of the budget cuts. The community will be keeping a close eye on how this plays out.

State lawmakers are set to get their pay hike, but the community is still waiting to see how the budget cuts will affect them. The fact that these raises are happening during a time of financial constraint is not lost on locals. This will be a story to follow in the coming months.

The pay commission's report cited the need for competitive salaries to attract qualified candidates. However, the timing of these increases couldn't be more off, it's a difficult pill to swallow when other areas are being cut. The community will be watching to see how this affects the state's budget and their own wallets.

In the end, it's not just about the raises; it's about the priorities of the state. What does this say about the state's priorities when lawmakers and elected officials get a raise, but other areas are being cut? That's a question that will be on everyone's mind in the coming months.