California state lawmakers and other top elected officials won’t be getting a pay increase for the first time in five years as the state faces a major budget deficit and mass unemployment induced by the coronavirus.
The California Citizens Compensation Commission, a public board that sets salaries for public officials, voted unanimously Thursday to keep officialsâ pay flat for the fiscal year beginning July 1. Gov. Gavin Newsom will make nearly $210,000. State legislators will continue to collect nearly $115,000 a year while top officials such as the lieutenant governor will make $157,000 and the attorney general will take in roughly $182,000.
The flat salaries for elected officials follow a proposal by the governor to slash pay for state government workers by 10% due to the new recession. Newsom previously said he would take the pay cut, too.
Some members of the commission said an increase or decrease would not make a drastic dent in the state’s fiscal situation.
âOur economic state wouldnât necessarily be impacted by the decision we make here today,” said commission member Nichole Rice before the vote.
Lawmakers are grappling over a $54.3 billion budget deficit due to the pandemic’s economic devastation. Newsom has proposed cutting billions from public education if the federal government does not kick in support.
Read the full story from the Associated Press here.
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