SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - A state panel has recommended 37 percent raises for Utah's governor and other top officials.
Members of the bipartisan Utah Elected Official and Judicial Compensation Commission say the salary increases will ensure people don't need to be independently wealthy to hold a top state post.
Commission vice chairman David Bird says it's also a good time to implement the changes because the economy is turning around.
The panel suggests 36.5 percent raises for the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, state treasurer and state auditor.
That kind of change would bring Gov. Gary Herbert's annual salary to $150,000, and would push the other officeholders' annual pay to $142,500.
Any raises would have to be approved by the Legislature to take effect.
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