Maine voters could soon have the opportunity to approve or reject pay raises for elected officials in the state, including legislators and the governor, should a new initiative make it to the ballot this November.
Sponsored by a group of GOP lawmakers, a new bill would give Mainers a say in whether or not legislators and the state’s chief executive will be receiving a pay raise.
This comes after it was revealed earlier this year that state senators and representatives were set to be given a 61 percent pay raise beginning this session, as well as a significantly higher level of compensation for Maine’s next governor.
Gov. Janet Mills (D) will not benefit from this pay increase as she will be term-limited out of office prior to the effective date of this raise.
LD 775 — sponsored Rep. William R. Tuell (R-East Machias) and cosponsored by Sen. Marianne Moore (R-Washington) and Rep. Mathew David McIntyre (R-Lowell) — would allow Mainers to weigh in on whether these raises will ultimately take effect.
Under legislation included in a budget previously signed into law, legislators’ compensation for the current legislative session was raised from $28,000 for a two-year term to $45,000.
Lawmakers are set to receive $25,000 for the first session and $20,000 for the second session.
Beginning in 2027, after Gov. Janet Mills (D) is termed out of office, the governor’s salary will also rise, increasing from $70,000 annually to $125,000 annually. The governor’s expense account will also quadruple from $10,000 to $40,000.
Both of these raises would be subject to voter approval under LD 775, meaning that Mainers would have the opportunity to decide if they wanted their elected officials to be paid a higher salary.
Should LD 775 be enacted, these raises would go before voters in November for final approval.
Click Here for More Information on LD 775
Although Maine’s constitution prohibits lawmakers and governors from increasing their own current salaries, any lawmakers who were reelected in November are now eligible to receive this increased level of compensation.
This constitutional requirement does, however, prevent Gov. Mills from benefiting from the budget law’s raises.
The proposal to increase lawmakers’ salaries drew bipartisan support in the 131st Legislature, with those on both sides of the aisle arguing that the prior level of compensation was insufficient to attract and retain effective representation.
[RELATED: Maine Lawmakers to Receive 61% Pay Raise This Year]
In an interview last year with the Portland Press Herald, House Minority Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham (R-Winter Harbor) indicated that the old salaries were “way too low” and were a barrier to having more “working-class people” serving in office.
“If we want a better representation of the public, we need to increase salaries so working-class people can serve in these positions,” Rep. Faulkingham said.
Rep. Laurie Osher (D-Orono) appeared to agree that the lower level of compensation was inadequate for certain groups of Mainers — including “young people, people of color, and low-income and working-class Mainers” — to participate in government.
“Because of this, the Legislature does not accurately reflect the Mainers who elect us,” Rep. Osher said. “There are vital perspectives that are underrepresented or even missing from the conversation because too many Mainers cannot afford to serve.”
These pay increases are estimated to cost taxpayers a total of $1.7 million this year.
In addition to their salaries, lawmakers are also eligible to either receive a $150 daily stipend for meals and lodging or to be reimbursed for the mileage of their commutes.
According to a report from the Portland Press Herald, these reimbursements and stipends totaled $1.7 million during the 2023 legislative session, former Senate President Troy Jackson (D-Allagash) and Faulkingham, received $35,540 and $28,000 respectively.
Despite having the second-longest commute, Senate Minority Leader Trey Stewart (R-Presque Isle) received only $17,717 in reimbursements.
Both leadership and rank-and-file members are given the same reimbursement and stipend options.
LD 775 has been referred to the State and Local Government Committee for further consideration, but a public hearing has not yet been scheduled.
Tell ya what let say pay is based on budget surplus, a % returned to the tax payers a % to the law makers. See how fast things change.
Pay them minimum wage for the hours in session and a bonus decided by the tax payers but figure it as a tip then tax the shit out of it.
We’re 1/2 a billion in debt….what do you think?
they don’t work a full year let alone a full day. They deserve no more than minimum wage. These people are arrogant POS Republican and Democrat both, they deserve nothing.
Maine’s taxpayers may vote “no,” but the politicians will give one to themselves anyway. That’s what always happens – at midnight on a Sunday of a holiday weekend, when the populace is otherwise occupied.
They need to.reduce spending and spend less time in Augusta. It is morphing into a full time job.
they tend to do business after dark, in the shadows so NO I do not think they deserve a raise until the dems agree to work with all parties and stop the crap that goes on. We don’t reward children who do not play with others, do we? I don’t care who is in majority, it seems to me that everyone there should be able to voice their opinion and have a say i n how to get to a balanced budget and stop indoctrinating our children. You are making our kids weak and useless for work. Or is that what you think is the right way to have them sucking on govt teat forever—sad. Owning your own life that you worked hard for is what kids need, to feel worthy, not a victim.