Jackson Jambalaya

Are you kidding me?... "attracting the best qualified people"?? Give me a break. Hell no.

Those positions absolutely need more money. Not only are they below private industry, but none of their staff can make more than they do. If you can't get very good people at the top, the bureaucracy becomes entrenched and out of control. This is already a problem that will only get worse if something doesn't change.

This needed to happen.

Those current salaries can’t be right

Much needed, but don't let the teachers tell you that....

These raises do not bother me. It’s simply bringing the salaries closer to SE averages. The reality is that these are not just jobs... they are essentially life-consuming positions that are scrutinized/vilified at every turn. They deserve competitive pay. This is not a partisan issue (but it will be treated as such.) I’d support this no matter which party was receiving the pay.

none of their staff can make more than they do

Yup. For example, over at SOS, the head of the securities division makes less than $90K. Guess what you get for that? Lawyers who don't a think about securities regs. Want to do something about white collar crime, make the chief regulator job a position worth having for a securities lawyer. That's just one example.

The raises are too high. Speaker and Lt Gov are (or should be) part time jobs. Eliminate the restrictions on staff pay. I'll support some of this only if the legislature raises the gas tax 20 cents a gallon.

Nobody runs for state office because of the salary. How much did Bryant take home in his campaign account? Campaign finance reform and term limits? Pass those and I'll support doubling the salaries of state officials. Until then, the whole thing is a charade.

Looks like Delbert took quite a pay cut.

NEWSFLASH - people seeking statewide political office DO NOT DO SO FOR THE MONEY!!! If anything these salaries should be reduced. For many years the governor of the State of Texas received no salary.

Sorta disagree to an extent. Yes you want successful competent people to run, but a lot of times, these successful people have already made their money and want to serve. Justice Randolph has a mid 8 figures net worth probably. He would be a Justice if it were 30k a year; he just loves the law and wants to serve. $195k in the private sector isn’t THAT successful. No matter what I would hope all of these figures would represent a pay cut from the private sector. You aren’t that great of an attorney or CPA if you’re making mid 150s, sorry.

They need to look at paying the Legislature a little more also. Reduce what lobbyists can spend on them and give them a pay raise. Their salary hasn’t been increased since the early 80s.
To be in the Legislature, you have to be wealthy, retired, a lawyer, or poor.

Some people rob you with a pistol and others use a fountain pen.

git-r-dun tate!

Man those teachers are going to be PISSED!!!!!!!!! I say give them the same percentage raise as the elected officials get.

I dont see why the salaries shouldn't all be raised to between $200k to $275k. Compared to lobbyists they dine with, they are still only making chump change.

To all those saying there shouldn't be a competitive salary, what opportunity are you providing those who HAVEN'T had lucrative careers to serve?

Everyone complains about the rich and powerful running politics... well, your plan will keep it that way! Now, please don't misunderstand me, AOC is an idiot and a horrific example... but, there are people that have excellent leadership capability and effective ideas that aren't loaded.

The libs ALWAYS rear their ugly teeth when they talk about Phil. Geez, I don't even like the guy but you make me defend him with your asinine comments. NAME ME a politician that hasn't benefited from unused campaign funds! If you have a problem with that, advocate against it. But don't throw shade at a person that has done nothing different than thousands of other politicians.

You know... if they don't "need" their salary, they could always donate it like Trump.

3:04 the teachers are always pissed. And they are going to stay pissed. Just like the folks that receive PERS - all they want is for the gubment to take care of them, and they don't give a damn about anybody else.

But going back to the teachers - if you take the total amount of pay raises the teachers have gotten since the last time the state elected officials were given a raise (other than the Judges and the DA's) then the percentage is probably about the same. Its just that the teachers have gotten theirs in increments, not in one lump sum some thirty or forty years later.

@3:04- Really?? You're basically saying the raise of less than a dozen officials should be percentage matched with raises for over 32,000 teachers?! I agree teachers should get paid more, but the entire education system is screwed up. Too many superintendents, and deputy superintendents, and administrators, and facilities, and districts, and on, and on. If the education system was revamped, the teachers COULD get a decent pay raise... but it would take A LOT of hard decisions... the kind people don't like to talk about.

Sure they need a raise. Just look at the damn good job they have been doing.
We are the poorest state in the U.S. why should our politicians pay be any different. When they get us off the bottom of the list we can talk about pay raises. Until then if you do not like the pay go somewhere else.

I know for certain this is needed at the AG's office. It is incredibly difficult to hire attorneys, investigators and support staff because the agency can't pay for the level of experience needed.

ONLY if paired with campaign finance reform. I'll be damned if I will support those types of salaries AND watch them get bought and paid for by lobbyists. Read the campaign finance reports. You will puke.

Yes, I'm talking about Bryant. And Hood too. Total BS to walk off with that kind of money as an elected official.

If you put the legislators on a lower fixed amount, they would come to Jackson, get the work done and go home to a decent job (if they are qualified to hold a decent job). That is what they did years ago before the state was broke. Some states don’t pay more than a per diem.

All you whiners clearly haven't been pulling on your own bootstraps hard enough.

Hell no they don't need a raise. Screw them! People complain when state employees get a raise, but not when elected officials get a raise. Seriously, as has been said, the people aren't running for office because of the salary, they are doing it because they want the power and recognition. That's all there is to it! If anything needs to be changed, it is simply that the staff can't make more than them, that way you get the "securities lawyer" who knows what's going on.

Simple, make it performance based bonus with smaller salary like the rest of the working peeps.

The only way I would personally be ok with giving any of these idiots a raise is if we added a stipulation that lobbyists can not provide them anything of value. Any gift accepted would be a felony punishable by prison.

Shad White is the only on that deserves his pay,he'll he needs a big raise,he's the only one in state government that actually does anything.

@5:27- There are very few people who have jobs that consume their identity and/or that they truly have to take home with them and essentially be on call 24/7. Also, these jobs ARE basically performance based. If you’re not happy with their performance, VOTE THEM OUT!

Some people appear to have unrealistic expectations of what attorneys make in Mississippi. The median is about $83K, including bonuses. Perhaps the misperception is due to attorneys feeling the need to act the part and live beyond our means.

https://www.salary.com/tools/salary-calculator/attorney-i/ms?type=bonus

The national average for attorneys is said to be around $108K. DOJ litigators are said to average about $122K.

Sucks to be a state employee with no raise since 2007!! Thanks for the kick in the teeth.....again!! I concur with you @5:51pm

Correction: the median income of Mississippi attorneys is about $88K, including bonuses, not $83K. My mistake.

-7:00 p.m.

On another note, what the hell is a bootstrap? (@3:51 p.m.) I've heard the expression many times over the years, but it still makes no sense to me. I think what people mean by it is "Suck it up and try harder." Either way, I think it's a rather dishonest way to tell somebody they are inadequate when they are probably doing the best they can.

The legislature has been against any state employee raises. Usually when it come up on this site people will say if you don’t like the pay you get then you need to get another job. Be consistent people.

I waited to see if anyone would acknowledge the higher amounts won't EVEN take effect until 2024. The legislature isn't giving the executive branch a raise for their current elected terms (only the speaker appears to be getting a base bump as of July 1, 2020.) The executive branch officials will only benefit from this legislation if they earn re-election (performance evaluation by voters) and return to office in 2024.

It seems to me that all the angry teachers would have (should have) read and understood this important tidbit.

Can we require random drug and alcohol tests and classes on anger management also? I can’t stand seeing my tax money enabling wife beating drunks.

I’m a retired State employee, I don’t see anything wrong with giving our State Wide Officials getting a raise! What they are getting now is pitiful. I worked many jobs and went to college during my 34 year tenure with the State. If you make a career in State Employment you will need to supplement your income. State employment is a choice and you gotta have options. Just think of all the good friends you met over your career, the 2 hour long lunch breaks, the unlimited breaks, and the generous leave plan and don’t forget about that 13th check!

What I’m really saying is quit bitching and do something about it! The State has great benefits and you have a Choice!

We have Great Leaders serving the people of Mississippi and they deserve a big raise!!

I got to go now, my wife told me to stop lying and get off the iPad, and it too early for me to be drinking!

Real talk, you do have a choice! State Service, is what it says!!!

Governor and AG seem to be a little high. Looks like Tater is rewarding himself and Fitch.

Governor salary of $150,000 - $175,000 would be more competitive with other states. $195,000 would put us into the top five which I don't think is reasonable given our size and comparative wage disparity with all the other states.

AG should be in the $125,000 - $150,000 range.

No real problem with any of the others.

KF makes a good point that it is the staff of these positions that do the " real" work and thus need to be the most qualified.
But, do remember these are, in concept, " public servants" who get to keep their businesses and professions. Indeed, their businesses and professional partnerships profit from their "status and influence". They can continue to " earn" money as " speakers".
More over, their " costs of living" automatically are reduced. The Governor, for example, is not paying office expenses or for groceries, utilities, or transportation costs. His entertainment costs are practically non-existent.
These officers are invited " conventions" at fine resorts with all expenses paid ( including for spouses and usually children} as long as they give a speech and interact with the members of whatever group is having the convention.
They are walking advertisements and promoters for those who provide services and other needs, so they are given deep discounts for what they buy. Banks have forgiven loans or offered lower interests for loans.
They get paid for giving speeches.
And, look into how much money they raise when running for office they get to keep. Even if they don't get it until they leave office, that money is an asset that can be borrowed against to invest and look at retirement.

This is reasonable, perhaps even low. However total compensation is what matters. I lack information on vehicle allowance, memberships is gyms, assume IT stuff is funded. Home security systems are also warranted in this age of crazies.

There are head of some state agencies that make more than the governor's current salary. That does not seem appropriate to me.

And there goes the LOTTERY money.