(Source: MIRS.news, Published 08/18/22) The Michigan Independent Redistricting Commissioners rejected a budget plan that would tie salaries to attendance at the meetings but continued to discuss a plan on how the commission could go dormant.
A fiscal year (FY) 2023 budget of nearly $3.2 million was set for the MICRC along with the salaries of the 13 commissioners at 25% of the governor’s salary.
“I think we talk way too much about our salary, and it sets a bad precedence,” said Commissioner Anthony Eid.
Executive Director Edward Woods III presented three salary options for the nearly $3.2 million MICRC budget: salaries at 35% of the governor’s salary; salaries at 25%, but getting paid is tied to attending meetings; and the current salary of 25% of the governor’s salary, which is the one they passed.
Commissioner Doug Clark said if someone did work outside of the meeting times and missed a meeting they wouldn’t be paid.
“I think that’s a bit unfair,” Clark said.
Commissioner Rebecca Szetela made a similar statement before calling for a vote to adopt the budget with the 25% of the governor’s salary option.
The commission had a short argument over if they should vote on the budget Thursday as there were some members absent. However, it was pointed out that Thursday was the last day to pass the budget because Woods said he needed to present it that day to the appropriations committee for a supplemental.
Commissioner Steven Lett also presented the MICRC with a draft of a dormancy and reactivation policy plan, which lays out what dormancy for the commission will look like.
The plan states the commission would remain until the next commission is picked in 2030 and will remain active as long as litigation is ongoing, including if new lawsuits are filed.
The power to decide when dormancy begins and ends would be given to the Michigan Department of State.
Dormancy would terminate any salary set for commissioners unless they are reactivated, which would happen by MDOS, according to the draft.
Eid said that should be revised.
“Right now, we have a Department of State that works with us very well and I’m sure you are all very appreciative, but that might not always be the case for the next 10 years,” Eid said. “There is a chance that there’s a Secretary of State that doesn’t like this commission so much, and perhaps they wouldn’t want to reactivate us.”
Lett said he would be meeting with MDOS in September to see what items the Secretary of State would need to take over when dormancy happens.
The commission also approved setting only one meeting per month through December.
