Galvin says hikes raise budget questions
Secretary of State William F. Galvin said he plans to take at least some of the $29,000 raise included for him in a controversial pay hike bill, but lamented that the package — and its staggering $18 million price tag — has created a slew of unexpected “budget issues.”
The bill, jammed into law Thursday by lawmakers overriding Gov. Charlie Baker’s veto, was based in part on a 2014 commission’s recommendations to raise the pay of the state’s top elected officials, at a cost of about $1 million.
But lawmakers ultimately layered in far more, including padded stipends for dozens of legislators and $25,000 pay raises for judges. And given several public officials’ salaries are also tied to judiciary pay, Galvin fears there will be a trickle-down through a number of departments, including those he oversees.
“The idea of the commission was to unscramble this and create some order in this whole public salary issue,” said the Brighton Democrat, whose pay jumps from $136,000 to $165,000 under the new law.
“But we’re going to have budget issues going forward, and even though I don’t have a problem with the ($165,000), I don’t think I can accept it at this time until the budget situation is clarified,” he said.
Galvin said he intends to take a “portion” of his raise but didn’t say how much. He said he believes he should at least make more than others, and pointed in particular to county sheriffs, who make roughly $150,000 while overseeing one or two jail facilities.
“I run 13 registry of deeds,” Galvin said. “I’m looking at that for some guidance.”
Most of the state’s constitutional officers said they aren’t taking the various raises afforded to them, including Baker, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, Attorney General Maura Healey and Treasurer Deb Golberg. Only state Auditor Suzanne Bump, who will now make $165,000, has said she’ll take it.
Some Republican lawmakers who voted against the pay hikes but stand to take home handsome hikes have also yet to say what they’ll do. Minority leaders Sen. Bruce Tarr and Rep. Brad Jones are both due a $37,500 pay raise but neither responded to requests for comment yesterday.