While most state employees face the threat of 10% pay cuts due to a state budget deficit fueled by the coronavirus crisis, a citizens' panel on Thursday decided not to cut the salaries of state lawmakers and other statewide elected officials.
The decision came with an entreaty from Tom Dalzell, the chairman of the state Citizens Compensation Commission, who called on California's 132 elected state officials to each consider taking less pay as the state contends with the economic upheaval stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic and the stay-at-home orders implemented to slow spread of the virus.
Gov. Gavin Newsom announced earlier this month that he will seek a 10% reduction in the salaries of rank-and-file state workers as well as his own pay starting July 1 as part of a plan to address an expected $54.3-billion deficit for the fiscal year starting that day.
Thursday's vote to maintain salary levels for elected officials sent the wrong message, said Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn.
When asked about Dalzell's suggestion, Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins said in a statement Thursday that the Senate is focused on developing a plan that would avoid devastating cuts to important state programs.
While Newsom's office is negotiating with unions to reduce the pay of civil servants working for the state, the salaries of elected officials are set annually by the commission that was created under a ballot measure approved by voters in 1990.
The commission cut elected officials' pay by 18% in 2009 after the governor and Legislature furloughed state workers to avoid a budget deficit during the Great Recession.
The decision came with an entreaty from Tom Dalzell, the chairman of the state Citizens Compensation Commission, who called on California's 132 elected state officials to each consider taking less pay as the state contends with the economic upheaval stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic and the stay-at-home orders implemented to slow spread of the virus.
Gov. Gavin Newsom announced earlier this month that he will seek a 10% reduction in the salaries of rank-and-file state workers as well as his own pay starting July 1 as part of a plan to address an expected $54.3-billion deficit for the fiscal year starting that day.
Thursday's vote to maintain salary levels for elected officials sent the wrong message, said Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn.
When asked about Dalzell's suggestion, Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins said in a statement Thursday that the Senate is focused on developing a plan that would avoid devastating cuts to important state programs.
While Newsom's office is negotiating with unions to reduce the pay of civil servants working for the state, the salaries of elected officials are set annually by the commission that was created under a ballot measure approved by voters in 1990.
The commission cut elected officials' pay by 18% in 2009 after the governor and Legislature furloughed state workers to avoid a budget deficit during the Great Recession.
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