Colorado state government salary
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This page describes the compensation, salaries, and benefits that Colorado's public employees receive from state and local government.
The Colorado Association of Public Employees brought a bill to Assistant Majority Leader Sen. Lois Tochtrop seeking to exempt the records of particular employees' pay, and only permit access to aggregated salary information. Tochtrop is sponsoring the bill, known as Senate Bill 49. [1]
The Denver Post had a searchable database of Colorado State Employees, along with employees of many of the State Universities. Under pressure from state employees, this was removed, and it is stated that obtaining this information is now very difficult.[2]
[edit] Legislators' salary
Colorado state legislators make $30,000 per year.[3] Legislators also receive a per diem of $45 per day for members living in the Denver metro area and $99 per day for members living outside Denver.[3]
[edit] Elected officials' salaries
| Office | '11 Salary | Current Official |
|---|---|---|
| Governor | $90,000[5] | John Hickenlooper |
| Lieutenant Governor / Commissioner of Education | $68,500 ($140,000 total)[6] | Joe Garcia |
| Secretary of State | $68,500[7] | Scott Gessler |
| Attorney General | $80,000[8] | John W. Suthers |
| Treasurer | $68,500[9] | Walker Stapleton |
The salary of Colorado's governor ranks 48th among U.S. governors' salaries. The average salary earned by U.S. governors is $128,735. The median salary earned by U.S. governors is $129,962.[10]
[edit] Judicial salaries
| Position | '09 Salary | Current Justice |
|---|---|---|
| Chief Justice | $142,708 | Michael Bender |
| Associate Justice | $139,660 | Gregory Hobbs |
| Associate Justice | $139,660 | Alex Martinez |
| Associate Justice | $139,660 | Monica Marquez |
| Associate Justice | $139,660 | Nancy Rice |
| Associate Justice | $139,660 | Nathan Coats |
| Associate Justice | $139,660 | Allison Eid |
The salary of Colorado's chief justice ranks 34th among U.S. chief justices' salaries. The average salary earned by U.S. chief justices is $155,230. The median salary earned by U.S. chief justices is $151,284.[11]
The salary of Colorado's associate justices ranks 33rd among U.S. associate justices' salaries. The average salary earned by U.S. associate justices is $151,142. The median salary earned by U.S. associate justices is $145,984.[11]
[edit] State and local government employees
The FY2012 state budget, which took effect on July 1, 2011, gives no raises to state employees, marking the third year in a row that employees salaries have remained the same. For the second year in a row, state workers are required to contribute a greater portion of their paychecks to their retirement.[12]
According to 2008 Census data, the state of Colorado and local governments in the state employed a total of 320,650 people.[13] Of those employees, 227,729 were full-time employees receiving a net pay of $971,010,148 per month and 92,921 were part-time employees paid $113,456,631 per month.[13] More than 56% of those employees, or 180,041 employees, were in education or higher education.[13]
In 2007-08, the average base salary for a state employee was $4,161 per month, which is equal to $24.01 per hour.[14]
[edit] Teacher Salaries
CEA Local Associations and local school boards negotiate “master agreements” that include, but are not limited to, the terms and conditions of employment for teachers and classified school employees. CEA believes that by 2011, the annual salary of a starting teacher (preschool through college/university) should be at least $40,000, and educators with 10 years of experience and a Master’s degree plus 30 credit hours should be paid no less than $80,000 annually. CEA believes that all education support professionals should be paid a living wage at a minimum. [15]
| Beginning Teacher Salary | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| $30,140 | $48,487 |
Colorado teachers participate in Colorado Public Employee Retirement System.
[edit] Benefits
In 2007-08, 38,067 state employees were eligible for benefits.[14]
[edit] Paid days off
Sick Leave
State employees have approximately 10 days per year of sick leave (6.66 hours earned per month), regardless of service time.[17]
Holidays
State employees enjoy 10 paid holidays.[17]
Bereavement leave
Employees are allowed up to 40 hours at the time of death of a family member or other person if the absence is approved by the appointing authority.[17]
Other leave
- Jury Duty - Permanent employees are granted jury leave for the period they are required to serve. Temporary employees are granted up to three working days when jury duty occurs during days they are normally scheduled to work.
- Military Leave - Granted for permanent employees, the first 15 working days (120 hours) per calendar year are paid; any additional military leave beyond 15 days is unpaid.
- Administrative Leave – Paid leave designed to relieve an employee of official state duties in order to participate in activities determined by the appointing authority to benefit the state.
[edit] Retirement
State contributions are provided for the basic retirement plan choices offered by the Public Employer Retirement Association.[17] Employees choose between a defined benefit plan or defined contribution plan.[17] For 2010, the state contribution per month is 13.85% of gross salary following any Section 125 salary reduction.[17]
The state reduced a 3.5 percent annual pension increase to 2 percent, concluding that was the fastest way to revive its pension fund, which was projected to run out of money by 2029. The retirees have sued to block the reduction.[18]
Colorado is the first state to impose pension cuts on its current employees, not just future employees. Most states do not do so because officials presume that they are legally bound to shield current workers from pension cuts.[18] A Colorado Supreme Court ruling from 1961 held that pension cuts for current workers were allowed if “actuarially necessary,” and the state plans to contend that the ruling also applies to retirees as well.[18]
[edit] Insurance
Health Insurance The State contribution for medical and dental insurance is a fixed amount regardless of the plan selected, and the contribution amount is not prorated for part-time employees. Employer Monthly Contribution
| Insurance | Employee Only | Employee + Spouse | Employee + Child(ren) | Employee + Spouse + Child(ren) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medical | $350.66 | $592.54 | $627.10 | $868.98 |
| Dental | $20.72 | $33.86 | $35.72 | $48.86 |
Life/Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
the State-paid basic life insurance for all permanent, benefit-eligible employees increased to a flat coverage amount of $50,000, and the State-paid premium is $9.40 per month per employee.[17]
Disability Coverage Short-Term Disability coverage is fully paid by the State and pays up to 60% of pre-disability earnings for up to 150 days following the required 30-day waiting period. Long-Term Disability coverage can be purchased by the employee.[17]
[edit] Other benefits
- Flexible Spending Account - Pre-tax health premium, dependent care and health care flexible spending accounts
- State Employee Assistance Program - a professional assessment, referral, and short-term counseling service
- Commuter Choice Program - pre-tax salary payroll deductions for rapid transit passes and qualified monthly parking.
[edit] Additional reading
- Public employee salary
- See sample transparency legislation at the Sunshine Standard
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ↑ CORA change would mask employee pay, Politics West, January 8, 2009
- ↑ "Colo. Salaries for Elected Officials. Want To Find Out What They Are? Good Luck.", Expat Exlawyer, March 12, 2010.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 National Conference of State Legislators 2010 Legislator Compensation Data
- ↑ The Council of States Governments The Book of States 2010 Table 4.11
- ↑ Denver Post "Hick: It ain’t about the salary"
- ↑ Denver Post "Hick: It ain’t about the salary"
- ↑ Denver post "New Colo. secretary of state wants salaries set by citizen commission"
- ↑ Denver post "New Colo. secretary of state wants salaries set by citizen commission"
- ↑ Politics Daily "Colorado Treasurer Moonlights for Up to $150K, and He's Not Alone"
- ↑ ‘‘The Council of State Governments,’’ “The Book of the States: 2008”
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 The National Center for State Courts, "Judicial Salary Resource Center" as of Jan. 1, 2010
- ↑ The Denver Post "Gov. Hickenlooper inks $18 billion Colorado budget, but some pieces still in play" May 7, 2011
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Colorado Public Employment Data
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Colorado State Workforce Demographics Report 2007-08
- ↑ Colorado Education Association, Collective Bargaining
- ↑ [2011-01-01T00%3A00%3A00Z%20TO%202012-01-01T00%3A00%3A00Z
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 17.5 17.6 17.7 State of Colorado 2009 – 2010 Total Compensation Summary
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 The New York Times "In Budget Crisis, States Take Aim at Pension Costs" June 19, 2010
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