From Deseret News archives:
Legislators hiring staff, dishing out pay raises
But lawmakers themselves aren't getting salary boost
Legislative leaders are suggesting that the Legislature itself get $550,000 more this year in one-time surpluses and $1 million more in fiscal 2005-2006.
House budget chairman Ron Bigelow, R-West Valley, said the Legislature is hiring two more attorneys for Legislative Research and General Counsel, one more auditor for the Legislative Office of Auditor General and one more fiscal analyst to help prepare the $8.6 billion state budget lawmakers are now considering.
"We want to stay a part-time Legislature," said Bigelow. "To do that, we have to make sure that when we are working up here, we have the staff support to let us do our work."
In addition, like other state departments this year, the Legislature should give some of their employees whose salaries are below the private/public market level appropriate pay raises.
For example, as part of the current budget negotiations with Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., lawmakers are looking at pumping $10.8 million into state worker salaries to get much-desired skilled workers closer to what they could earn in the private sector or in local government.
Why is the $350,000 for the STAR plan (a Science, Technology and Research proposal for the University of Utah and Utah State University) in the Legislature's budget?
"Because we didn't know where else to put it," Bigelow said, adding that legislators aren't trying to keep it for themselves but only keeping it there until he further explains how he intends to spend it.
Preliminary budget proposals show $3 million for STAR next year, but those final votes haven't been taken, Bigelow noted.
Suggested by former Senate president Lane Beattie, now head of the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce, STAR would pay for five buildings at the U. and USU and begin a high-tech medical/computer research program modeled after research and development programs at other leading universities across the nation.
Huntsman wants STAR as part of his new economic development plans for Utah.
E-mail: bbjr@desnews.com
Comments
- Storm pounds Utah for 2nd day 2:22 p.m.
- Market drops as dollar strengthens 2:12 p.m.
- Peter Gammons leaving ESPN 2:09 p.m.
- Uganda mulls death penalty for gays 1:58 p.m.
- Woods' mother-in-law released 1:52 p.m.
- Iraq sets parliamentary elections 1:51 p.m.
- New policies on water at schools 1:38 p.m.
- Five players miss Jazz practice 1:37 p.m.
- McChrystal supports new strategy 1:33 p.m.
- S.L. County gets AAA bond rating 1:32 p.m.
- BYU football: Bronco weighs in on Hall
- Witness: Mitchell stalked victims
- Yet again, we learn BCS is a big joke
- Williams' late jumper tops Spurs
- Cougars in better mood about bowl
- $2M error could mean layoffs
- Ranking the bowl games
- Storm pounds Utah for 2nd day
- BYU eager for crack at Oregon State
- Andersen apologizes for Jordan hoax
- Y. profs: Beck not all-knowing
270 - TCU to play Boise in Fiesta Bowl
203 - Letters: Global warming a lie
191 - Cougars going back to Vegas
147 - Utah/BYU rivalry can be more civil
140 - BYU football: Bronco weighs in on Hall
130 - George lost in rivalry hatefest
119 - Ed Smart 'appalled' at testimony
101 - Harpring's NBA career is over
98 - Store planning for Palin crush
84
Sen. Scott Jenkins was name-checked by Jay Leno Monday night during his...
Red Shirt, Your response at 12:15 p.m. is exactly why we should be scared to...
Yes, let's google Kurt Bestor and get totally accurate information on his...
What Anderson did was wrong. Yes, he lied, and should be held accountable....
I hope they go against the Mormons and Seventh Day Adventists now too.
I wonder if our beloved Pres. Obama will tell the Iranian students (as he...
This is hard to understand, that JW's are hard working, tax paying, community...
Sorry to say this BUT guess what?. We were BORN into this world,...
To "thanks redshirt | 12:31 p.m. " what conspiricay have I touted?
Abortion can legally only be performed by a physician. To seek the assistance...
BCS - how do we deal with these BCS buster teams? Just let them play each...



You can be the first to comment on this story.