Recently I received a July 2014 House Research paper on state agency heads salaries and the parameters under the statutes to establish salaries. Of the state agency heads listed the majority are eligible for a salary of $119,517.
Also received was a Feb. 4, 2015, communication regarding changes under the statutes that would be made to agency heads salaries. Effective Jan. 1, 2015, agency heads salaries would average $150,000 and this was also reported in the evening TV news on Feb. 10. In round numbers the state agency heads can receive a $30,000 raise. This raise is more than some low and middle income individuals or families earn a year.
When government said it needs or wants to do something for the low and middle income individual or families what does that mean? It is said by government that the proposed 6.5 percent sales tax on gas would mean about $100 annual for individuals or families. For individuals or families with a $30,000 or even $50,000 annual income, which is not unknown, compared to a state agency heads that could average $150,000, that $100 in increased gas tax is a much higher percentage of the net income for low and middle income people. So is it only meaningless words about doing something for the low and middle income individuals and families? In the real world low and middle income individuals and families pay a higher percent of their net income in taxes than the upper income people.
Kent Rees
Emily
