State panel advances request for 70 percent legislator raise

South Dakota lawmakers on Monday advanced a proposal to ask voters to give them a raise.

The Executive Board unanimously approved a resolution that would tie legislators' salaries to the median household income in the state. And that would likely mean a 70 percent raise for the state's 105 lawmakers.

The measure will need to be approved by lawmakers in the House and in the Senate before it would come before South Dakota voters as a constitutional amendment.

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Currently, South Dakota legislators receive $6,000 a year in addition to per diem payments and some reimbursement for mileage. And that rate hasn't changed in almost two decades.

The resolution's supporters want to set legislator salaries at one-fifth of the most recent median household income. According to the 2015 U.S. Census, South Dakota's median household income was $50,957 for that year, which would put lawmakers' salaries around $10,191 annually.

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Rep. Mark Mickelson, R-Sioux Falls, said approving a raise for lawmakers would attract more diverse candidates to run for office.

“If you’re not going to pay the folks very much, then you’re going to limit the pool of those who can serve to those who are retired or self-employed," Mickelson said.

Follow Dana Ferguson on Twitter @bydanaferguson, call 605-370-2493 or email dferguson@argusleader.com