A report released by the Office of Management and Enterprise Services says 30 state agency directors received raises of at least $10,000 last fiscal year, with some receiving more than double that amount.
The Oklahoman’s Randy Ellis reports the largest raise went to Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation director Stan Florence – a nearly $47,000 pay bump that boosted his annual salary from just over $80,000 to $127,000 per year.
Gov. Mary Fallin said some of the raises did have merit, but she's skeptical all 48 agency heads who received raises had to have them immediately before the other needs of their agencies were met.
“A lot of the boards that run these agencies beg every year for more money for their agency, but in a year when most of their budgets were flat or reduced, they gave their directors raises,” Fallin said. “This means one of two things is true: Either the agency is misprioritizing spending, or the agency’s finances are stronger than what these boards and directors say they are when pleading for more taxpayer money.”
House Speaker Jeff Hickman (R-Fairview) agreed, and called the number and amounts of the raises “shocking” given the current fiscal situation.
“I would expect the boards and commissions who oversee these agencies to ensure they are meeting the needs of those Oklahomans they serve, that they are taking care of critical infrastructure projects and that below market compensation levels are addressed for the state employees who work hard every day to serve our state before giving significant pay raises to agency administrators.” Senate President Pro Tem Brian Bingman said that while the state must offer competitive salaries, “some of these raises send the wrong message, particularly in a tight budget year.” “Increasing state employee pay to an appropriate level will be a lengthy process, and it is my hope that agencies will prioritize the salaries of high-need employees before giving substantial raises to their directors,” Bingman said.
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