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Subcommittee on Employee Relations
April 7, 1999 The Honorable Steve Sviggum The Honorable Allan H. Spear Dear Mr. Speaker and Mr. President: In accordance with the duties assigned to it by Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 15A.082, the Minnesota Compensation Council offers the following recommendations: 1) Increase the salaries of Judges in 2001 and 2002. The Council recommends that salaries of judges be increased by 3.5% on January 1, 2001, and 3.5% on January 1, 2002. In addition, the Council recommends that the salaries of judges be increased in 2001 and 2002 by the average of the across the board increases received by state employees in their collective bargaining agreements and arbitration awards. Specifically, the salaries of judges should be increased on January 1, 2001, by the average of the across the board increases for the fiscal year ending on June 30, 2000, included in collective bargaining agreements and arbitration awards that have been ratified by the Legislature in regular session in 2000. The salaries of judges should be increased on January 1, 2002, by the average of the across the board increases for the fiscal year ending on June 30, 2001, included in collective bargaining agreements and arbitration awards that have been ratified by the Legislature in regular session in 2000. 2) Increase the salaries of Constitutional Officers in 2001 and 2002. The Council recommends that the salary of the Governor be increased by 7.5% on January 1, 2001, and by 2.5% on January 1, 2002. In addition, the Council recommends that the salaries of the other constitutional officers be fixed as a percentage of the salary of the Governor, as follows:
If the Legislature rejects our recommendation to change the compensation relationships among the constitutional officers, the Council recommends that each constitutional officer receive a salary increase of 7.5% on January 1, 2001, and an increase of 2.5% on January 1, 2002. 3) Increase the salaries of Legislators in 2001 and 2002. The Council recommends that salaries of Legislators be increased by 5% on January 1, 2001, and by 2.5% on January 1, 2002. In addition to the recommendations required by law, the Compensation Council urges the following: 4) Allow the Governor to approve increases in agency head salaries without legislative approval. Under current law, the Governor may set the salary of an agency head within a statutory range, but a new salary rate does not take effect until approved by the Legislative Coordinating Commission and is not final until ratified by the Legislature. The Compensation Council recommends that the requirement for approval by the Legislative Coordinating Commission and the Legislature be eliminated for heads of state agencies appointed by the Governor. I have included a list of the members of the Council at the end of this recommendation. The members worked diligently and thoughtfully to develop these recommendations for consideration by the Legislature. Respectfully submitted, Gene Merriam Mr. Richard McCluhan Mr. Verne Meyer Ms. Polly Bowles Mr. Thomas Triplett Mr. Richard Jefferson Mr. Gene Merriam Ms. Cynthia Bigger Mr. Buford Johnson Appointed by the House of Representatives Appointed by the Supreme Court Appointed by the Senate Subcommittee on Employee Relations Home Page Last Updated: Friday, 14-Jan-2005 09:17:10 CST (mp) Send
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