By Mary Jo Pitzl, The Republic | azcentral.com
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Arizona voters will get a chance to decide if lawmakers should get a 45.8 percent pay hike. If they decide yes, that will take legislative pay to $35,000 a year.
On a 3-2 vote, the Commission on Salaries for Elected State Officers decided to send the issue to the Nov. 4 ballot.
Arizona legislators last got a pay hike 16 years ago, when voters approved the current $24,000 salary.
In addition to the salary, lawmakers also collect per-diem, a daily rate intended to cover the costs of food and, for lawmakers outside Maricopa County, lodging.
The rate is $35 a day for Maricopa County lawmakers and $60 for those elsewhere. It is collected only when lawmakers are at the Capitol or doing legislative work.
