You get what you pay for, part X

Star Tribune: 11/19/07: Editors: Editorial: Salary cap hurts competitiveness

Star Tribune:

Legislature should eliminate cap that restricts pay for many government jobs.


THE SEARCH FOR TALENT

"To pretend that we can get by for $140,000 and consistently attract the talent... We're kidding ourselves.''


Imagine answering a help wanted ad for a city manager's position somewhere in Minnesota. After learning about the formidable challenges ahead -- tight budgets, demanding constituents and long hours -- the conversation might turn to pay.

"Sorry," you'd be told, "but we've got a cap that limits what we can offer. Have we mentioned the lakes and parks? How about the Vikings and the Guthrie? Our quality of life is priceless."

Although the 2005 Legislature made a move in the right direction, Minnesota continues to be hurt by the nation's only known statewide cap on government salaries. The maximum pay for a top local or state official is 110 percent of the $120,303 salary the governor earns. The general exception is school superintendents, although Bloomington as the state's largest city with a manager has been exempted and some other waivers have been granted. The cap had been at 95 percent of the governor's salary before the 2005 change.

There's no need to open the floodgates for $200,000-a-year city managers, but municipalities in Minnesota should have more flexibility to recruit and hire the best available talent for their top jobs. So too should state officials looking to fill key positions. The Legislature should eliminate the cap.