INDIANAPOLIS – The state’s top elected officials would see a big pay raise under the new salary language included in the latest budget proposal. The increases, which would go into effect on Jan. 1, 2025, were not included in a presentation released by GOP legislative leaders Wednesday afternoon. But that document did include salary hikes for Indiana State Police troopers.
Under the proposal, the state governor’s salary would be equal to that of an Indiana Supreme Court Justice, starting with Gov. Eric Holcomb’s successor. The governor now makes $133,683 annually, compared to the justice’s pay of $198,513. That salary would increase by 48%.
The biggest increase would come to the Lt. Governor, whose salary would become 88% of a justice’s salary. Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch makes $108,819 and her successor would earn $174,691, a 60% raise. Crouch has announced her intention to run for governor in the coming cycle.
The Attorney General would also see an increase of 45%, from $113,653 to $164,765. Incumbent Attorney General Todd Rokita has indicated that he will run for re-election in 2024.
The other three executive offices affected – the state auditor, state treasurer, and secretary of state – would be paid $131,018. Currently, those officeholders earn $94,501.
The proposal is a significant bump that has not been publicly vetted this session. Current law tying annual increases to those of other state employees remains.
As part of the budget, the language is almost guaranteed to become law unless legislators make a last-minute amendment, though the 2024 General Assembly session returns before it takes effect.