Bill raises pay for govt executives

Local ST-Monday, November 12, 2007 By Agnes E. DonatoReporter

Government executives will get a pay increase under a bill now before the Legislature.House Speaker Oscar M. Babauta has introduced legislation that would restore to 1998-2006 levels the salary ceilings for certain appointed officials and raise the salaries of the Public Health secretary and the attorney general.Babauta said the salary caps must be updated “in order to attract and retain qualified and dedicated managers to serve the needs of the Commonwealth.”If enacted, the bill would benefit department heads, deputy department heads, resident department heads, and division chiefs or special assistants. The bill would apply to salaries paid beginning Oct. 1, 2006.Under the government compensation act passed in 1991, maximum salaries were set for department heads ($54,000 or $48,000), deputy department heads ($42,000), resident department heads ($36,000), and division chiefs or special assistants ($40,800).Between Oct 1, 1998 and Oct. 1, 2006, annual salary ceilings were applied to equalize the department heads ($54,000), and raise the pay of deputy department heads ($50,000), resident department heads ($45,000), and division chiefs or special assistants ($45,000). The increase were set forth in appropriation acts during the period.However, the FY2007 budget did not include similar provisions. As a result, the salary ceilings for such officials reverted to 1991 levels for the first time in eight years.Babauta’s bill intends to restore the salary caps to pre-2007 levels. It also seeks to increase the salary ceilings for attorney general to $80,000, and for the secretary of Public Health to $70,000, or $100,000 if the secretary holds a doctor’s degree.The public auditor may receive up to $100,000 a year, and the public defender $70,000.Notwithstanding the caps, a department secretary or activity head who holds a doctor’s degree, an MBA degree, or is a U.S. certified public accountant may get up to $80,000 a year.Despite the $45,000 cap for their category, the special assistants for administration and for budget and management may get $54,000. The same cap will apply to the senior policy adviser. Legal counsels to the governor and lt. governor may get an annual salary of $70,000.Babauta said that the government could save on personnel turnover costs by providing attractive salaries to managers and policy makers.