Senate approves pay raises for elected state officials

New Mexico’s governor and other statewide elected officials would get 15 percent raises starting in 2023, under a bill approved Thursday by the state Senate. The proposal, Senate Bill 547, next goes to the House of Representatives for consideration. The state’s five public regulation commissioners, who are elected from districts, also would receive 15 percent […]

Senate approves pay raises for elected state officials

New Mexico’s governor and other statewide elected officials would get 15 percent raises starting in 2023, under a bill approved Thursday by the state Senate.

The proposal, Senate Bill 547, next goes to the House of Representatives for consideration.

The state’s five public regulation commissioners, who are elected from districts, also would receive 15 percent increases.

Salaries for the governor and other statewide elected officials were last increased in 2002.

Sens. John Arthur Smith, D-Deming, and Steve Neville, R-Farmington, are sponsoring the bill for the pay increases. They said salary scales for top elected officials are too low.

Neville conceded that any number of candidates probably would still run for governor if the job paid nothing. But, he said, these executive salaries should be more in line with job responsibilities.

Smith said chiefs of staff for the governor and other officeholders typically are higher than what the elected officials are paid.

Most senators accepted their reasoning, voting 37-3 to approve the bill. Republican Sens. Cliff Pirtle of Roswell, Craig Brandt of Rio Rancho and Mark Moores of Albuquerque cast the dissenting votes.

Sen. Clemente Sanchez, D-Grants, voted for the bill, though he was uncomfortable with it for a different reason.

Sanchez said the proposed salary increase for the governor is too low.

The bill would raise the governor’s salary from $110,000 a year to $126,500.

Sen. Bill Burt, R-Alamogordo, took a position similar to Sanchez’s.

“Without offending anyone, I think you get what you pay for,” Burt said.

The Legislature last year approved 10 percent raises for these elected officials, but then-Gov. Susana Martinez vetoed the bill.

Under the new proposal, the total cost of the pay raises would be about $206,000 a year.

In addition to the governor, these officeholders would get raises:

  • Attorney general, from $95,000 to $109,250.
  • Commissioner of public lands, from $90,000 to $103,500.
  • Public regulation commissioners, also from $90,000 to $103,500. The five commissioners serve staggered terms. Raises for two of them would take effect in 2021. The other three would receive the higher salary starting in 2023.
  • Secretary of state, state auditor and state treasurer, from $85,000 to $97,750.

Senate Minority Leader Stuart Ingle, R-Portales, asked the bill sponsors how much of a salary increase the state’s longest-serving legislator, 94-year-old Sen. John Pinto, would receive.

None, they replied.

New Mexico legislators are not paid a base salary, but they receive a daily expense allowance while in session or on official business. They also can qualify for a pension after serving at least five years.

Pinto, D-Gallup, has been in the Senate for 42 years.

A proposed constitutional amendment that cleared the House of Representatives this week could open the way to pay legislators a base salary. That measure will be heard next by the Senate.

If both chambers of the Legislature approve that proposal, it would go before voters next year.

We're ad free

That means that we rely on support from readers like you. Help us keep reporting on the most important New Mexico Stories by donating today.

Related

Governor to call special session for public safety legislation this summer

Governor to call special session for public safety legislation this summer

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced that she will call the Legislature into a special session this summer to address public safety legislation that did…
Emily’s List endorses seven candidates for Legislature

Emily’s List endorses seven candidates for Legislature

Emily’s List, a nonprofit that supports women candidates and reproductive rights, endorsed seven incumbents facing general election opponents in New Mexico legislative elections. All…
Equality New Mexico endorses 15 legislative candidates

Equality New Mexico endorses 15 legislative candidates

A New Mexico-based LGBTQ rights organization endorsed 15 candidates for state House and Senate seats for the 2024 elections.  Marshall Martinez, executive director of…
BLM finalizes controversial public lands rule

BLM finalizes controversial public lands rule

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management finalized its controversial public lands rule on Thursday. This rule is controversial because it allows for conservation leasing…
Haaland signs order protecting sacred lands near Placitas

Haaland signs order protecting sacred lands near Placitas

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland signed an order on Thursday to withdraw more than 4,200 acres of land in Sandoval County near Placitas from mineral…
Sandia researchers look at ways to store hydrogen underground

Sandia researchers look at ways to store hydrogen underground

As the world looks to decarbonize, governments are promoting hydrogen, a somewhat controversial energy source, as an important component of that effort. But that…
Amid new graduation requirements, what do high schoolers want to learn?

Amid new graduation requirements, what do high schoolers want to learn?

By Margaret O’Hara, The Santa Fe New Mexican The main things that bring Brayan Chavez to school every day: Seeing, talking to and engaging with…
Special ed teachers hope lawmakers OK pay raises, admin changes

Special ed teachers hope lawmakers OK pay raises, admin changes

By Margaret O’Hara, The Santa Fe New Mexican Brittany Behenna Griffith has a laundry list of adjectives to describe the ideal special education teacher:…
Lawmakers must find consensus on competing education spending plans

Lawmakers must find consensus on competing education spending plans

By Margaret O’Hara, The Santa Fe New Mexican A challenging task awaits New Mexico lawmakers in the next 30 days: Reconciling three very different…
Health workers fear it’s profits before protection as CDC revisits airborne transmission

Health workers fear it’s profits before protection as CDC revisits airborne transmission

Amy Maxmen, KFF Health News Four years after hospitals in New York City overflowed with covid-19 patients, emergency physician Sonya Stokes remains shaken by…
Lujan Grisham, Biden admin announce $10 million in federal funds for tribes, pueblos

Lujan Grisham, Biden admin announce $10 million in federal funds for tribes, pueblos

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced Friday $10 million in funding from the federal American Rescue Plan Act was awarded to six tribal nations and…
Proposal to curb executive powers moves to House Judiciary

Proposal to curb executive powers moves to House Judiciary

The House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee discussed a potential constitutional amendment that seeks to limit the governor’s executive powers. The committee approved…
Stansbury introduces judicial ethics bill on U.S. Supreme Court steps

Stansbury introduces judicial ethics bill on U.S. Supreme Court steps

U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury announced a bill on Thursday that would, if enacted, establish judicial ethics to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Judicial Ethics…
Politics and abortion, how much will it matter?

Politics and abortion, how much will it matter?

At the national level, abortion is still a high-stakes issue with both major presidential candidates talking about it in their campaigns, but it may…
How the AZ Supreme Court decision on abortion impacts New Mexico

How the AZ Supreme Court decision on abortion impacts New Mexico

The Arizona Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that an 1864 abortion ban is enforceable, throwing another state bordering New Mexico into the situation of…
Politics and abortion, how much will it matter?

Politics and abortion, how much will it matter?

At the national level, abortion is still a high-stakes issue with both major presidential candidates talking about it in their campaigns, but it may…
How the AZ Supreme Court decision on abortion impacts New Mexico

How the AZ Supreme Court decision on abortion impacts New Mexico

The Arizona Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that an 1864 abortion ban is enforceable, throwing another state bordering New Mexico into the situation of…
The status of the lawsuit New Mexico joined to remove FDA restrictions to mifepristone

The status of the lawsuit New Mexico joined to remove FDA restrictions to mifepristone

While the U.S. Supreme Court considers the future of access to the abortion medication, mifepristone, another lawsuit against the FDA that would expand access…
Vasquez calls out Republicans for ‘inaction’ on border policy

Vasquez calls out Republicans for ‘inaction’ on border policy

U.S. Rep. Gabriel “Gabe” Vasquez, a Democrat who represents the state’s 2nd Congressional District along the U.S.-Mexico border, cosponsored a resolution on Monday calling…
Politics and abortion, how much will it matter?

Politics and abortion, how much will it matter?

At the national level, abortion is still a high-stakes issue with both major presidential candidates talking about it in their campaigns, but it may…
Politics Newsletter: Early and absentee voting

Politics Newsletter: Early and absentee voting

Good morning fellow political junkies! Early and absentee voting for the June 4 New Mexico primary begins in about a month. The nonprofit election…
Haaland signs order protecting sacred lands near Placitas

Haaland signs order protecting sacred lands near Placitas

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland signed an order on Thursday to withdraw more than 4,200 acres of land in Sandoval County near Placitas from mineral…
Sandia researchers look at ways to store hydrogen underground

Sandia researchers look at ways to store hydrogen underground

As the world looks to decarbonize, governments are promoting hydrogen, a somewhat controversial energy source, as an important component of that effort. But that…
American Rivers ranks waters in New Mexico as the most endangered in the country

American Rivers ranks waters in New Mexico as the most endangered in the country

New Mexico rivers are the most endangered in the country, according to the annual report from American Rivers. This is because of two U.S.…

GET INVOLVED

© 2023 New Mexico Political Report