Minnesota legislators are receiving a salary increase of about 4% over the next two years, the first half of which was implemented this month.
In March of 2021, the Legislative Salary Council approved the increase of 1.88% in each of the next two years. The first increase went into effect July, resulting in each legislator receiving an extra $1,750.
That makes the total salary $48,250 in 2021 for each Minnesota legislator, according to a March report from the Legislative Salary Council. That number will go up another $1,750 in 2022.
In 2020, the salary for a Minnesota legislator was $46,500, and $45,000 in 2019, according to the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library.
2018 saw the biggest jump in legislative salary yet, increasing from $31,140 in 2017 to $45,000 the following year. Prior to 2017, the salary had remained at $31,140 since 1999.
With 201 members of the Minnesota House and Senate total, almost $9.7 million will make up legislative salaries for 2021.
Rep. Erik Mortensen, R-Shakopee, is donating his bonus to a local nonprofit organization, the Shakopee Eagles Club.
“I’ve always strongly believed charity is best served locally,” Mortensen wrote in a Facebook post. “So, having grown up two blocks from the Shakopee Eagles Club, and knowing how they’ve long been deeply involved with keeping charity local, [my wife and I] decided this first check should go to them.”
Mortensen shared a picture of the check for $1,750 being made out to the Shakopee Eagles Club, which is part of an international organization that supports local communities and hosts charity events.