1976, February, Pg. 197. LEGISLATIVE ACTION REPORT.

• Author: by Gordon G. Gauss

5 Colo.Law. 197

Colorado Lawyer

1976.

1976, February, Pg. 197.

LEGISLATIVE ACTION REPORT

197LEGISLATIVE ACTION REPORTby Gordon G. GaussCBA Public Relations and Legislative CounselSalary Increases Proposed for State Officials

Why should Colorado judges receive salary increases in 1976?

The question has been posed frequently around the capitol in Denver where the harried 50th General Assembly is trying to cope with lower-than-expected revenues, increased spending demands and a shrinking surplus.

Some answers --- which also will be applicable in future years---are contained in the report of the Colorado State Officials' Compensation Commission. It recommends pay boosts not only for judges but also for district attorneys, top elected officials, legislators and members of several commissions.

Highlights of the hikes proposed are: governor, now $40,000, to $60,000; lieutenant governor, now $25,000, to $36,000; attorney general, now $32,500, to $40,000; secretary of state, now $25,000, to $29,000; state treasurer, now $25,000, to $31,000; public utilities commissioners, now $28,000, to $40,000; parole board members, now $24,500, to $31,500; industrial commission members, now $22,100 to $30,000; land board members, now $17,160 to $24,000; legislators, now $7,600 to $12,000, with an extra 25 per cent for persons in positions of leadership; Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, now $37,500, to $53,000; associate justices of the Supreme Court, now $35,000, to $50,000; chief judge of the Court of Appeals, now $32,500, to $46,000; associate judges of the Court of Appeals, now $32,000, to $45,000; district judges, now $28,000, to $42,500; county judges in Class A and B counties, now $25,000, to $35,000; county judges in other classifications of counties, scaled down from the A and B salaries on the same basis as at present; district attorneys, now $24,000, to $37,500. The state would pay the entire cost.

Some doubt has been cast on the immediate fate of the plan since Gov. Richard Lamm has eliminated the five elective state jobs from consideration this year on the grounds that any changes in those salaries cannot be effective until the start of new terms in 1979. If the remainder of the plan is adopted this year, some judges temporarily will be receiving salaries higher than the governor.

Increased Costs

The commission...