RD5 - Report of the Citizens' Advisory Committee on Legislative Compensation


Executive Summary:
This is the final Report of the Citizens' Advisory Committee on Legislative Compensation appointed by the Joint Rules Committee this fall to provide advice and recommendations regarding legislative compensation issues before the Rules Committee in HJR 60.

The Report makes five key recommendations:

• "Creditable compensation" for purposes of calculating benefits under the Virginia Retirement System should include only salary and should not include payments made as reimbursement for office or other expenses.

• Legislators should receive inflation adjustments to salaries, effective in January 2000, in recognition of the commendable job they do and to help ensure that the opportunity to serve as a citizen legislator remains open to persons from all walks of life.

• Legislators should receive reasonable reimbursement for the expenses of acquiring office equipment or operating a district office so that no person who serves is required to subsidize his or her legislative office personally or through financial supporters.

• There must be a system that assures public accountability for office expenditures supported with public dollars.

• Legislative compensation should be reviewed every four years by a citizens' committee under a formal process spelled out in the Code of Virginia.