Sunday, December 22, 2024
35.0°F

Letter to the Editor: Why the spike in salaries?

| February 4, 2021 12:05 AM

Why the spike in salaries?

Most state agency directors appointed by Gov. Greg Gianforte are getting paid at substantially higher salaries than their predecessors under the Bullock administration – some as much as 46% more.

Some examples:

  • Public Health and Human Services: $165,000, a 46% increase. Commerce: $160,000, a 41% increase.
  • Administration: $145,000, a 28% increase.
  • Corrections: $144,000, a 27% increase.
  • Environmental Quality: $130,000, a 15% increase.
  • Fish, Wildlife and Parks: $130,000, a 15% increase.
  • Labor & Industry: $130,000, a 15% increase.
  • Natural Resources and Conservation: $130,000, a 15% increase. Revenue: $130,000, a 15% increase.

Gianforte directed each director to find efficiencies within their respective budgets, with the savings going to help fund their higher salaries. I wonder if the efficiencies they will find will be letting go two or more of the ‘little people’ or reduce the programs serving more Montanans than a few select directors.

— Suz Rittenhouse, Polson