State & Local Government Policy, Business and Technology

Montana lawmakers to look at raising their pay 82 percent

Billings Gazette: HELENA — Future Montana lawmakers would receive an 82 percent pay raise or more compared to what they're making now under a measure to be considered this week by a legislative panel.

State lawmakers made $7,437 in wages over the 90 days of the 2015 legislative session, and that doesn't include per-diem allowances, payments and reimbursements between sessions and other benefits, such as health and retirement.

Under the measure to be considered by the Legislative Council on Tuesday, the lawmakers would make $13,608 in the 2019 session, based on the proposed benchmark used to calculate unemployment benefits. Their pay would be even higher if that benchmark goes up in the next two years.

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