123rd MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 226		LR 484(01)
	An Act To Enhance the Concept of Representative Democracy by Ensuring Basic Compensation for Elected Representatives
	Fiscal Note for Original Bill
	Sponsor: Rep. Burns of Berwick
	Committee: State and Local Government
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
			2007-08	2008-09	Projections 2009-10	Projections 2010-11
Net Cost (Savings)
	General Fund		$10,000	$0	$10,000	$0
Appropriations/Allocations
	General Fund		$10,000	$0	$10,000	$0
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	This legislation will require a General Fund appropriation to the State Planning Office within the Executive Department in the amount of $10,000 in fiscal year 2007-08 and every two years thereafter to provide funds for contractual services to develop salary plans for members of the legislature.  The plans would set different pay levels for each member of the legislature, depending on the amount needed to bring each member's total income up to a basic needs budget that would need to be determined.  The bill would most likely also increase future costs to the legislature to pay members more than the current amount.  The amounts will depend on the salary plans developed by the State Planning Office that set the salary for each  member of the Legislature at a level that meets a basic needs budget.  Implementing legislation for the first plan would be submitted by January 15, 2008 and be effective for the 124th Legislature that begins in December of 2008.  Funding will need to be provided in the implementing legislation.