| The State Officers Compensation
Commission was established in1968 when Michigan voters approved the addition
of Section 12, Article IV, to the constitution. Prior to that amendment,
the legislature had been required to set salaries and expense levels by
passing a law, subject approval or a veto from the governor. The 1968 amendment
specifies that the SOCC will establish the salaries and expenses for the
governor, the lieutenant governor, members of the legislature and the justices
of the state Supreme Court. The commission’s recommendations will take
effect unless the legislature decides, by a two-thirds vote in each house,
to reject the proposal.
The 1968 amendment provides
for a seven-member commission, appointed by the governor. Implementing
legislation specifies that:
SOCC members can be appointed for only one four-year term. Expenses are
paid for members, but they receive no salary.
The commission can meet for no more than 15 days after July 1 of even-numbered
years. It must file its recommendation during December of that year.
The recommendation takes effect on January 1 of odd-numbered years. The
legislature is not required to vote on the SOCC determination. If it does
vote, two-thirds of each house must agree to reject the proposal. This
rejection must occur by February 1.
The legislature can reject the entire proposal or just the recommendations
for specific positions.
The commission has developed
a set of criteria to help with its decision making (Legislative Service
Bureau Report, January 2001). Members take into account the level of inflationary
adjustment, salary comparisons with similar positions in other states and
positions with similar responsibility in the private sector, cost-of-living
data and the state’s current financial
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outlook. The commission
also considers the public comments from correspondence and public hearings.
The SOCC recommendations
have been controversial at times during the past 34 years. In 1991, the
legislature voted to reject the proposal in the midst of a downturn in
the state’s economy. In 2000, the SOCC members believed that the salary
levels were inadequate compared to positions with similar responsibilities.
They also felt that the salaries did not reflect economic growth through
the years. The recommended salary increases for 2001 included 13.7 percent
for the governor ($175,000) and 35.8 percent for legislators ($77,400).
The commission recommended a 2.9% increase for all positions in 2002. After
considerable public discussion, the SOCC determination was rejected by
the House. The Senate did not vote on this proposal, so the commission’s
recommendations went into effect, retroactive to January 1, 2001.
Twenty-one states have a
compensation commission to help determine legislative salaries, according
to the Legislative Service Bureau Report. In some states, the commission’s
role is advisory, and the legislature makes the determination. The commission
has complete control over setting compensation levels in five states, and
in five other states, the commission operates the way it does in Michigan.
The Proposal
If Proposal 02-1 is approved
by voters, the legislature will be required to vote on all future salary
and expense determinations that are made by the State Officers Compensation
Commission. This proposal would amend the state constitution in these ways:
Expand the positions covered by the SOCC determination to include the attorney
general and secretary of state. These salaries are now set by the legislature
as part of the regular budget process.
Require the legislature to vote on the recommendation made by the SOCC.
A majority vote would be needed to approve the commission's recommendations. |
