LEGISLATOR SALARY

Here are some facts about Legislators' salaries:

1. Salaries are set by statute at $24,012 per year - the same level they received since the Legislature froze its own salary in 1991;
2. In 1996, the Legislature removed itself from the State salary schedule eliminating them from any cost-of-living raises enjoyed by other state employees;
3. Legislators are not eligible for the 3.5% annual merit increases received by State employees;
4. Legislators have not had a salary increase in over nine years;
5. Legislators pay for their health care cost increase that went into effect July 1, 1999 for most state employees;
6. Legislators do not receive leave benefits enjoyed by State employees.

LEGISLATOR PER DIEM

Here are some facts about legislative per diems:

1. Session per diem is tied to the federal per diem rate which is set by the Department of Defense for Alaska and is NOT raised or lowered by the Legislature;
2. Per diem is a reimbursement for expenses, NOT salary;
3. Most Legislators must pay to maintain two homes during session;
4. Since January 16, 1995, legislative session per diem has risen five times and dropped five times;
5. Overall the per diem has increased just $10.00 for non-Juneau Legislators and $7.50 for Juneau Legislators (SEE CHART BELOW).

Effective Date	Juneau Legislators	Change	Non-Juneau Legislators	Change
01/16/95	113.25		151.00
03/01/95	111.00	-2.25	148.00	-3.00
04/30/95	120.00	+9.00	160.00	+12.00
01/08/96	111.00	-9.00	148.00	+12.00
03/01/96	118.50	+7.50	158.00	+10.00
05/01/96	128.25	+9.75	171.00	+13.00
01/13/97	118.50	-9.75	158.00	-13.00
02/01/97	126.00	+7.50	168.00	+10.00
03/01/98	120.75	-5.25	161.00	-7.00
03/01/99	129.75	+9.00	173.00	+12.00
01/01/00	120.75	-9.00	161.00	-12.00
NET OVERALL CHANGE		+ 7.50		+10.00

MISCELLANEOUS

Here are some other facts about the Legislature:

1. Since 1994, the Legislature has cut 30 full-time and 39-part time positions;
2. The Legislative Budget has decreased 17% since 1994 - a rate 4 times the state average;
3. Between FY94 and FY97 the Legislative Branch took a 23.4% decrease compared with a 3.1% increase for the Executive Branch and a 9.1% increase for the Judiciary Branch;
4. Legislators receive an annual office & postage stipend of $6,000 to communicate with their constituents. This amount has not changed since 1994 despite an increase of 27,000 residents statewide AND a four-cent increase in postage since 1991. Changes to our ethics laws prohibit Legislators from using campaign funds for communication purposes. Just to keep up with postage increases since office accounts were initially set at $4,000 in 1970, the accounts would have to be about $22,000; and
5. The average newly elected Legislator only serves about 5 years. At age 60, this Legislator would receive a pension of about $200/month. A Legislator serving 20 years, retiring at age 60 would receive only $900/month.

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