How should Oregon set the salaries of legislators, governor, judges and district attorneys? Should it be through a system where legislators decide the salaries or something else?

Ballot Measure 116, which Oregonians will vote on in November, answers the questions. It would have those salaries set by something called an “independent public service compensation commission.”

Lobbyists, officers of or employees of the state and family members of people who would directly benefit would not be able to serve on the commission.

It wouldn’t take the politics out of setting these salaries. But it would transfer them to the commission.

A key thing to note about this change is that legislators would not get to vote once the commission had made its determination of what the salaries should be. One reason voters may want to oppose it is that it removes some accountability about salaries from elected officials. Of course, removing the direct control of the salaries from legislators is also why some people like it.

You can find more information about the legislation that created this ballot measure here: tinyurl.com/ORcompensation.