An Act limiting compensation paid to state officers and employees to no more than the governor's compensation except as provided by law.

Posted: March 3, 2000
Contact: Representative Fred Dyson's office at (907) 465-2199

House Bill 408 is simple. No state employee base pay may be greater than the governor’s. I feel that sound management practice would have our chief executive be the highest paid public figure in state government.

Not included in the salary computations affected by this bill are wages an employee may make by working overtime (especially important for public safety officers), accrued benefits (bill should punish those who don’t take leave), health coverage, and geographical adjustments. The majority of employees now making more than the governor are Division Directors, Executive Directors, Judges and Attorneys. There are a few long-term employees of Public Safety and Administration who, due to longevity, make modestly more than the governor.

House Bill 408 stipulates that the legislature may make provisions for paying some employees more than the governor if the need arises to maintain or attract the level of skill need for a particular position or profession. In keeping with Constitutional guidelines, the salaries of sitting judges and justices are not effected by HB 408. Limitations would apply only to new judicial appointments.

There are 357 state employees that make an average of $12,324 more than the governor. If this bill were to become law, the state would save $4.4 million dollars.