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Elected officials pay raise passes

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Amid vetoes, Gov. Reeves lets pay raises for elected officials pass

Gov. Tate Reeves has allowed large pay raises for statewide elected officials — including the governor — to pass into law without his signature amid his vetoing a handful of other measures.

Starting in 2024, after the next election, Mississippi’s statewide elected officials will see pay increases ranging from $25,000 a year to $60,000 a year, or 22% to 67% increases. The governor’s salary will increase 31%, from $122,160 to $160,000. Lawmakers, with some debate, passed the salary increases at the end of this year’s legislative session. A proposal to raise legislators’ pay died.

Lawmakers this session passed a raise in teachers’ pay that averages $5,140, increasing starting teacher pay from $37,123 to $41,638.

Mississippi’s median household income is $45,081 a year — the lowest in the country.

The increases for statewide elected and other officials taking effect in 2024 are:

Office Current salary 2024 salary
Governor $122,160 $160,000
Attorney General $108,960 $150,000
Secretary of State $90,000 $120,000
Insurance Commissioner $90,000 $150,000
Treasurer $90,000 $120,000
Auditor $90,000 $150,000
Agriculture Commissioner $90,000 $120,000
Transportation Commissioners $78,000 $95,000
Public Service Commissioners $78,000 $95,000

The lieutenant governor and House speaker’s salaries will increase from $60,000 a year to $85,000 a year under the new law.

Reeves did not comment on the pay raises. But in a social media post on why he vetoed lawmakers’ spending $50 million on upgrades at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, Reeves said: “It is important to ensure that your money is invested wisely: based on creating value for you. This is the first of several spending vetoes that we will share and answer questions on in the coming days.”

This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

Mississippi News

Trump says he will issue an executive order Monday to get TikTok back up

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www.wjtv.com – The Associated Press – 2025-01-19 09:20:00

SUMMARY: President-elect Donald Trump announced that he will issue an executive order on Monday to extend the deadline for TikTok’s China-based parent company, ByteDance, to find an approved U.S. buyer. This decision follows the removal of TikTok from app stores due to a federal law requiring ByteDance to sell its U.S. operations or face a ban, citing national security concerns. Trump’s order would delay the law’s restrictions, offering ByteDance more time to negotiate a sale. Despite challenges, including TikTok’s legal disputes, Trump emphasized the app’s potential value and the importance of keeping it operational in the U.S.

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Mississippi News

Events happening this weekend in Mississippi: January 17-19

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www.wjtv.com – Kaitlin Howell – 2025-01-17 07:20:00

SUMMARY: This weekend (January 17-19), Mississippi offers a variety of events. Highlights include the JSU Tiger Parade of Champions in Jackson, Fleet Feet Coffee Run, and several Martin Luther King Jr. celebrations. The Bridgid Ferguson Trio and Storytelling Festival also take place in Jackson, along with exhibits like “Of Salt and Spirit.” In Vicksburg, enjoy the Winter Youth Rodeo and Peruvian Delights Wine Dinner, while Natchez hosts a Krewe of Phoenix Ball and a Farmers Market. The Pine Belt features Artrageous in Hattiesburg and karaoke in Laurel. Other events include jazz, comedy, and live performances across the region.

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Mississippi News

Biden to address the nation days before Trump's inauguration

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www.wjtv.com – The Associated Press – 2025-01-15 10:43:00

SUMMARY: Joe Biden’s presidency aimed to “restore the soul” of America post-Trump, but despite bipartisan legislative successes and international alliances, he struggled to change the political landscape. Four years after defeating Trump, Biden faced electoral defeat as Trump made a political comeback. Polls show only a quarter view Biden favorably, even lower than Trump during his presidency. Although Biden touted achievements in infrastructure and economic recovery, rising costs and inflation eroded public support. As he prepares to leave office, questions persist about his legacy and the permanence of the political shift towards populism, leaving Biden’s ambitions unfulfilled.

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