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Healey, other Massachusetts constitutional officers in line for 20 percent raises
By Colin A. Young and Sam Drysdale
DEC. 30, 2022…..The state’s top officials are in line for substantial pay raises in the new year, with constitutional officers likely taking in 20 percent more than in 2022.
State lawmakers are also set to receive their fourth pay raise since 2017, this one worth more than 4 percent.
In a letter sent Thursday to Treasurer Deborah Goldberg, Gov. Charlie Baker said that median household income in Massachusetts has risen by 4.42 percent over the two years since the last adjustment to lawmaker pay. Adjustments to legislative base pay are required biennially under the state Constitution, based on changes in the median household income statewide.
A 4.42 percent increase for the 2023-2024 session would bump the base pay for elected lawmakers from $70,536 to about $73,654, a raise of $3,118 a year. Any lawmaker can choose to turn down the increase in base pay if they so choose. For many lawmakers, the base pay is supplemented by substantial stipends tied to committee and leadership posts.
In past years, especially during recent recessions, some legislators have rejected the pay increases and others have accepted the money, but pledged to donate it to charity. Most have accepted the raises.
Lawmakers got a 4.2 percent raise at the start of the 2017-2018 session, a raise of 5.93 percent at the start of the 2019-2020 session, and a 6.46 percent increase when the 2021-2022 session began. If median household income were to go down, legislative pay would also be slated to be cut.
The process of calculating the 4 percent bump in base pay for lawmakers is set in the state Constitution, but the origins of the 20 percent increase that statewide officers — governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, auditor, treasurer and secretary of state — will see in their paychecks comes from a controversial law passed in 2017 that ties officials’ salaries to changes in state wages over the past eight quarters rather than to median household income.
Though the state treasury does not make official determinations regarding other constitutional officer’s payrolls, the treasurer’s office did the math as specified in the law to calculate that the statute entitles constitutional officers to a 20.1 percent increase in 2023.
The required salary increases “reflect the aggregate quarterly change in salaries and wages in the commonwealth for the most recent eight quarters as determined by the Bureau of Economic Analysis in the United States Department of Commerce,” according to the law.
For incoming Gov.-elect Maura Healey, the raise means she will make $37,185 above Baker’s current $185,000 salary. In addition to the $222,185 salary, Healey is set to receive the governor’s standard $65,000 housing allowance for a total compensation of $287,185 in 2023.
The lieutenant governor’s pay will increase from $165,000 to $198,165 under the 2017 law..
Healey spokesperson Karissa Hand said Healey and Lt. Gov.-elect Driscoll will both “accept the salary that has been established by statute.”
Attorney General-elect Andrea Campbell and Auditor-elect Diana DiZoglio will also accept the increased salaries, press representatives said.
In response to an inquiry whether Secretary of State William Galvin would accept the raise — up from the $179,367 he made this year — Galvin spokesperson Deb O’Malley said, “The Secretary will be reviewing the numbers before making a determination. With preparations for his roles in the swearing-in and inauguration ceremonies next week, he does not expect to have a chance to do that until after next Thursday.”
Lizandra Gomes, chief of staff for Treasurer Deborah Goldberg, said Goldberg “will need to review” the available raise. Goldberg brought home $189,560 in 2022.
“As you probably recall, [the] Treasurer did not take any pay increase during the COVID 19 pandemic,” Gomes added.
The 2017 law also affects stipends that lawmakers receive for being in leadership positions or being chosen to chair a committee, separate from the changes in compensation that the governor is required to make every two years. The Senate president and speaker of the House each receive $35,000 in additional compensation for each two-year session.
House Speaker Ron Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka each made $178,473 this year in total compensation including stipends. The pay bump would bring their packages to more than $214,000 in the new year if they are reelected to lead their chambers as expected.
A representative for the speaker said Mariano “plans to accept the salary that the Treasurer deems correct.” Spilka’s team did not respond to a request for comment.
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Patty
December 30, 2022 at 6:16 pm
This is what you get when you are ruled by democrats.
😂😂😂😂😂
December 31, 2022 at 12:35 am
Or when you’re an obsessed 🤡
Factme
December 31, 2022 at 10:47 am
Obsessed with FACTS
Fed Up
December 30, 2022 at 7:41 pm
Un-fu*cking believable ! Massachusetts residents are struggling just to make ends meet and these useless politicians are getting a 20% pay raise. Absolutely disgusting. Anyone who voted for these fools how do you feel now?
Notyourmomsparty
December 31, 2022 at 10:42 am
So. Here we go. Even democrats not making ends meet have got to be fed up. Correctional Officers deserve this. Not legislators; that’s for sure.
Massucks
December 31, 2022 at 10:46 am
Ha! Even worse. I put on my glasses. Constitutional officers? I thought it said correctional officers. CONSTITUTIONAL officers? What is that?
They do not deserve this!
Ken Masson
December 31, 2022 at 12:06 pm
To all the people complaining would you do the job for less? Do you think you’re qualified? How much do you think these people would make in the private sector? Probably in the millions! Could you run a company this big? How much do you believe the job deserves, peanuts? What do you get for peanuts? Also do you think Republicans would work for less? How much do you think Charlie Baker made in the private sector? I can tell you millions more! You get what you pay for and we’re lucky we get great Leaders like Charlie Baker for peanuts. That’s what you call public service. If you think you got what it takes and you can think you’re better run for office or stop complaining because most of you are not smart enough to understand anything and how it works. It’s sad to see how ignorant this country has become. Especially in one of the most intelligent states in the country! I really don’t believe the above comments represent this state very well. Hell they’re all too chicken to post with their real name so what’s that tell you! If you can’t back up your comment with a real name like when people wrote into newspapers then your comment isn’t worth crap. It’s probably mostly ignorance anyhow If you’re afraid to put your name to it.
PS, I get huge raises in my job because I deserve it and my company doesn’t want to lose me in this tight labor market. That’s all the free market works!
Whitemale
January 1, 2023 at 12:21 pm
I am absolutely qualified. I would never get voted in by “the machine”. I’m a white middle aged man. So…………AND I would do this for less. Absolutely.
MortisMaximus
December 31, 2022 at 3:25 pm
Do the Job? Qualified? Private Sector? Run a company this size? You mean all alone? How ignorant Americans have become? You mean politicos who make the policy? People, Ken Messianic is a lying ignorant Antifa fraud. You want us to believe that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the largest employer in Massachusetts is being run by a couple of people at the top of the pay grade. This is one of the stupidest statements you have made in Fall River Reporter’s comment section. I’m sure you’ve made more ridiculous statements in your daily life but thank God I don’t know you or associate with you. How many departments are there in the State with stand alone management and staff. Does the Governor wash the toilets in Beacon Hill? What a complete moron. You obviously are clueless when it comes to business and management. That’s why your family photo business failed. Happy New Year Ken, as I’m working on being more diplomatic in my politics.
Ken Masson
December 31, 2022 at 4:22 pm
That’s the most ridiculous reply I’ve ever seen. You didn’t answer one question? Do you think you’re smart enough to lead the state of Massachusetts? I doubt it. Would you run a company with the budget the size of Massachusetts for quarter of a million? You’d be the biggest bargain in corporate history! If you’re not making it maybe you need to get a union. I guess you don’t remember back when we had a real middle class in this country. Probably way before you were born. Back when most families were buying a brand new car every 2 years and a lot of families had a primary and a vacation home! Way back when healthcare was all not for profit and affordable to most. Way back before Reaganomics screwed and destroyed the middle class. I’m sure you watch Fox News 24/7 and so screwed up you’ll never be fixed. Again two chicken to post with your own name? You’re just the ignorant type I was talking about! Thanks for walking right into it! Look up Dunning-Kruger syndrome. Your picture will be right there!
PS, if you’re afraid of antifa you’re probably fascist! Probably a MAGAt too! That’s what we call extreme right wing nuts back in the day, fascist.
MortisMaximus
December 31, 2022 at 8:28 pm
People had second homes when a home cost 5,10,20,40,80,100,150 thousand dollars and the U.S. dollar held value. Put that same paper note up to buy a home and then drag the $33 trillion dollar national debt with it. Who raised you Bolshevik Pigs? You can’t possibly be this ignorant! What was your level of education? Did you actually study photography? Fox News? I watch CNN and MSDNC. Because you prefer an echo chamber when it comes to information don’t assume that I do. Tell us more about the Robert Mueller investigation. Tell me about the Hunter Biden Laptop. Tell us all about the 51 former intelligence agency heads who called Hunters Laptop Russian Dis-Info and a Trump campaign product. Debating you is like shooting ducks in a barrel. You are completely delusional which is why you care more about who I am than what you actually think. You will never cancel the truth. Socialism, Communism and Fascism are only schisms. They have no value outside of pure delusion which you obviously are suffering. Happy New Year Ken, let’s not let your warped opinions and ideals get in the way of our friendship.
MortisMaximus
December 31, 2022 at 8:40 pm
Back when Healthcare wasn’t all for profit? What planet are you living on. Healthcare is one of the things bankrupting America. See any poor Healthcare executives? Wasn’t your king Charlie Baker in Healthcare before becoming Governor. Now that I am answering all of your questions maybe you should reconsider me for King of the Universe! Your comments are totally ridiculous and it is clear you are a brainwashed lemming. If you repent and admit your ignorance I will consider calling you a Nazi who was simply following orders and set you up for re-education inside of FEMA Region1. Happy New Year Trotsky!
MortisMaximus
December 31, 2022 at 7:08 pm
Yes I am smart enough to run the State of Massachusetts. When was the last year that Americans lived under unadulterated capitalism. Was it before the Civil War? Was it after the American Revolution. Do you realize that the Federal Reserve act of 1913 stole the power of minting coinage from the U.S. treasury and gave a private off-shore banking corporation known as the Federal Reserve the power to print worthless paper fiat currency backed by nothing? Stop acting like you’re so smart it is tiring. Anyone with an ego as big as yours at your age is a complete joke. While I don’t have the answers to the secrets of mankind and the universe, I surely understand basic economics like supply and demand and business management like maintaining a budget without structural deficits, employee retention, human resources, sourcing manufacturing inputs, infrastructure planning and maintainence, utilities management and much more. You worship politicians who speak with fork tongues as if they offer any value to society. Go ahead and enjoy the fruits of your psychosis, I’m sure they are bitter. I don’t need any politician to do anything for me. The American Republic and the Bill of Rights are in place to protect the right of the individual not the Democratic Mob. You love to check the Status Quo of elitist assholes who believe that they’re shit doesn’t stink. Does the Massachusetts Governor clean the toilets on Beacon Hill? Does the Governor plow snow? Does the Governor run the Mass. Lottery? Did the Mass. Governor renew your registration? Talk about not answering questions!
Ken Masson
December 31, 2022 at 10:41 pm
Looks like the Neanderthals MoronMaximus is triggered. If you don’t march lockstep to his fascist ways he gets all upset! I know you think you’re witty but you’re not. Back in Grade school The idiot bullies used to call me Mason’s Furniture like that’s supposed to be some sort of insult. But hey they were as smart as you! Like I said look up Dunning-Krueger. Your pictures there with your knuckles dragging on the ground. Happy New Year’s chicken shit.
So you think Masonic is an insult? You got to do a lot better than that!
MortisMaximus
December 31, 2022 at 10:54 pm
Not an insult but a poke in jest to lighten our adversarial banter. Life is too heavy to make more enemies. I prefer Messianic because it matches your messiah complex. Words don’t bother me at all and I am rarely triggered. I do love to debate because I am a total political animal according to that idiot Plato.