Panel to weigh pay raise for Arizona legislators
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Published: July 3, 2012 at 9:15 am
Arizona Senate. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona voters could be asked this fall to raise the annual $24,000 salary of the state’s part-time legislators.
A state commission on Tuesday will consider putting an increase on the November ballot.
Arizona voters last approved a pay increase for legislators in 1998, when the annual salary was $15,000.
Voters since have rejected five proposals to raise the annual salary to $30,000 or $36,000.
The Legislature holds an annual regular session usually lasting about four months.
Consideration of a pay increase follows within months the resignations of three lawmakers — two in the wake of domestic violence allegations and one before he pleaded guilty to federal criminal charges.
A current legislator faces pending federal criminal charges in an alleged corruption case stemming from his service on the Tempe City Council.
