Assistant state court administrator Richard Schwermer told the commission that the Administrative Office of the Courts had yet to see the pay-increase proposal and so was not ready to comment.

Also at Monday's commission meeting, a pay hike was pitched for state auditor Auston Johnson. Deputy state auditor Joe Christensen said a survey of Rocky Mountain states shows Johnson receives nearly 19 percent less than other state auditors.

"We are concerned about that salary," Christensen said of the $83,500 the state auditor now earns, compared to an average of more than $99,000 in the region. About one-fourth of the auditors working for Johnson are paid more than he is, Christensen said.

Johnson did not attend the meeting. Nielsen said the commission will take under consideration the request that the state auditor's salary be boosted. "We're not unsympathetic to the issue," he said.

Last year, the commission recommended the state auditor's salary go up 4.3 percent. All state elected officials and department heads, however, were given the same salary increase as other state workers — 2.5 percent.

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