Colorado Politics

Colorado Politics’ new tool allows users to see how much top earners in Colorado government make

Colorado Politics has an updated tool for taxpayers to see how much they’re paying top earners in state government.

Specifically, Colorado Politics has posted the salaries of the 3,809 public servants who make more than $90,000 a year as of last November.

Gov. John Hickenlooper donates his $90,000 annual salary to charity, but if he made an average governor’s wage he could do more good. Heck, there are more than 3,800 people in state government who are earning more than the governor.

Hick makes less than all of his department heads, the state’s district and county judges, as well as the doctors and lawyers on the public payroll.

Coloradans don’t pay their governor enough, by comparison. In fact. Hickenlooper’s pay ranks 48th among the nation’s governors, according to a January analysis by the career-building website Zippia.com.

Only Arkansas and Maine pay their governor less. The average gubernatorial salary is $133,000.

Not bad, taxpayers, for the figurative CEO of the $27 billion operation that is Colorado’s state budget.

Legislators get a $30,000 salary. Counting per diem and other benefits, however, Colorado lawmakers earn $41,880. which ranked the General Assembly 17th nationally, according to Zippio.com.

Colorado leaders get their first pay raise since 1998 next January. Three years ago lawmakers passed and the Hickenlooper signed Senate Bill 288 to increase legislators’ pay from $30,000 a year to $38,000. The next governor, along with other statewide and county officeholders, are getting a 30 percent boost.

According to Colorado Politics’ analysis, the governor’s office has 318 people who earn more than him, though probably not if they’re elected to statewide office.

The wage for lieutenant governor, secretary of state and state treasurer is set at $68,500, though the search of pay records said Lt. Gov. Donna Lynne made $153,768 – likely a pay cut for the former top Kaiser Permanente executive (who is running for governor, which would mean another big pay cut). Lynne makes more because she also is the state’s chief operating officer, a salary approved the legislature, the governor’s office noted for Colorado Politics.

State agency leaders make roughly between $150,000 and $162,000. The highest paid member of Hickenlooper’s staff is budget director Henry Sobanet at $173,616. The governor’s now-former chief of staff, Doug Friednash, made $169,765 and former highway director Shailen Bhatt pulled down $167,280, according to the database.

The top earner in state government is Catherine Anthes, Colorado’s commissioner of education, who makes $255,000 a year.

The top 10 list includes the head of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, the chief justice of the state Supreme Court, the state auditor and medical doctors in high-ranking jobs in other state agencies.

The judicial branch has the highest number of employees making more than $90,000 with 809. The Department of Public Safety has 413 and the Department of Transportation has 340.

But you won’t find the how much the football or basketball coaches for Colorado’s top universities earned, or even your old professor. The universities and colleges have their own payroll systems.

Editor’s note: This story was updated to explain why Lt. Gov. Donna Lynne makes more than others in similar positions.

 
David Zalubowski
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