Press Release: Proposal for 25% Pay Raise for Michigan Officials Faces Legislative Resistance
LANSING, MI – A state commission has proposed a substantial 25% pay raise for Michigan’s top elected officials, including the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, and members of the state Legislature. However, the likelihood of these raises being approved remains low, with House Speaker Matt Hall stating emphatically, “We’re not going to raise our pay. We’re not going to entertain that at all.”
The State Officers Compensation Commission made this unanimous recommendation on April 30, aimed at correcting a long-standing issue of stagnant salaries. Current compensation rates were set in 2011, following a 10% pay cut during the Great Recession. Notably, officials have not seen a pay increase since 2002, aside from a salary raise for the state’s Supreme Court justices in 2019.
Tom Cochran, Commission Chair, highlighted the inadequacies of the existing pay structure, urging the Legislature to address the “broken system.” Should the raise be approved, it would take effect in 2027, with current salaries seeing significant increases. For example, Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s salary would rise from $159,300 to $198,125, while state legislators would see their pay jump from $71,685 to $89,594.
Critics argue that without these raises, Michigan Supreme Court justices will become the lowest-paid judges in the state come October, risking the judiciary’s quality. Chief Justice Elizabeth T. Clement underscored the urgency for salary adjustments to attract and retain top legal talent in Michigan.
The Commission, which meets biennially, comprises members appointed by the governor. Their recommendations have repeatedly fallen on deaf ears in the Legislature, raising questions about the future of compensation for these roles.
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