State panel faces uphill battle to raise salaries

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- There was a tone of frustration at the final meeting of a citizens panel that recommends pay raises for statewide elected officials, lawmakers and judges.

The frustration that surfaced two weeks ago was a result of a decision made two years ago by lawmakers to ignore salary increases recommended by the Citizens' Commission on Compensation for Elected Officials.

When lawmakers failed to act, under the Missouri Constitution, the recommended pay scale went into effect. But legislative budget writers simply did not set aside any money for raises because there was no money.

The latest pay scale would go into effect Feb. 1 if lawmakers don't act, but there is again skepticism among lawmakers. The state economy is as bad as it was two years ago.

The commission recommended pay increases of 5.8 percent in 2004 and another 5.8 percent in 2005. Judges would also get across-the-board raises of $12,000 over two years. The total increase would cost $5.6 million. The report is due to lawmakers this week.

Senate President Pro Tem Peter Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau, has called the commission "a joke and a laughingstock."

Republican Rep. Jason Crowell of Cape Girardeau, the nominee for House Majority Floor Leader, said he won't even consider the recommendations because state employees as a whole haven't seen a raise in two years.

'The wrong impression'

Sen. John Russell, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, concluded that the commission's recommendations would fall on deaf legislative ears when lawmakers return to work on Jan. 8.

"I guess I am concerned because it gives the wrong impression that the state may have more money for salaries than it really does, and I don't think there is any way the legislature can adopt that," said Russell, R-Lebanon.

John Ebeling, chairman of the commission, argued that to retain quality workers, pay raises are required.

Ebeling said the increased cost of living that includes higher health insurance costs requires that raises be approved.

"I think we have to remind the legislature that in order to keep good people in office, they have to be properly compensated," Ebeling said.

If lawmakers ignore the increases, Ebeling said voters should have the opportunity to revisit the issue they first approved at the ballot in 1994.

The idea behind the 22-member commission was to take away from lawmakers the power to authorize raises.

The panel made is first recommendations in 1996 and the legislature funded them. Another set of raises recommended in 1998 were funded, but only partially. Times were good then.

Panel left out of budget

Now that times aren't so good, even the commission itself was in a budgetary mess. Tight finances had forced officials to leave the commission out of this year's budget.

So, even before the commission began hearing testimony, officials went looking for some financial help from the legislature and judiciary. Both turned the commission down because they have their own financial problems.

The commission's costs are expected to come in under $10,000, with the bill being paid for by the Office of Administration.

Given the current state of affairs, the question now is whether voters would be willing to do away with the commission altogether. Ebeling suggested they should at least have the chance.

"If it's not working, it may be time to tell the voters it's not working," he said.

Russell agreed.

"It certainly doesn't seem like it is useful anymore. It's been difficult for their reports to be adopted or accepted even in times when the state revenues were much stronger."