Pay for California Gov. Jerry Brown, legislators and all statewide officeholders will be cut by 5 percent from current levels, the state's independent salary-setting commission decided today.
The seven-member California Citizens Compensation Commission, the majority of whom were appointed by former Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, voted 5-1 for the pay cut at a morning meeting at Sacramento City Hall.
The panel, created by voter passage of Proposition 112 in 1990, is charged with setting compensation for the governor, legislators, and for all statewide officeholders from treasurer to controller to Board of Equalization members.
By law, the commission must take action by June 30 and its decisions take effect in December.
Commissioner Charles Murray had helped push the idea of a 5 percent pay cut for all officeholders, meant to save the state about $650,000 - only a tiny sliver of the state budget but symbolically significant to supporters.
Brown currently receives a salary of $173,987 and legislators are paid $95,291, except for legislative leaders of both parties. The Assembly speaker, Senate president pro tem and the minority party leader of each house receive $109,584.
Other current salaries range from $151,127 for Attorney General Kamala Harris and state schools Superintendent Tom Torlakson to $130,490 for the lieutenant governor, secretary of state and Board of Equalization members. The state treasurer, controller and insurance commissioner are paid $139,189.
A 5 percent reduction translates to $8,699 fewer dollars for the governor, $4,765 for legislators, $5,479 for legislative leaders, and amounts ranging from $7,556 to $6,525 for state constitutional officers.
The commission last cut salaries for legislators and statewide officeholders in 2009, when it approved an 18 percent reduction in pay and benefits. It also sliced lawmakers' per diem that year from $173 to $142.
Last year, the pay panel did not slash pay but eliminated a Capitol program providing cars to legislators, who now drive their personal vehicles and are reimbursed for mileage.
* Updated at 1:05 p.m. Thursday to delete a sentence that said state Controller John Chiang last year suggested the pay panel lacked authority to create a car allowance for lawmakers.
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