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.
Rose Williams
Rose Williams is an assistant editor for Alpha News.
