Legislators

OFFICE OF THE STATE CONTROLLER
Brandon D. Woolf
 
POLICY
 
SALARY DISBURSEMENT FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS
LEGISLATIVE BRANCHES
 
 
I.  BACKGROUND

 
            Members of the Legislature have traditionally had their salary commencing on December 1st.  This has caused some problems with the bi-weekly payroll since the first day in December rarely coincided with a payroll period.  The result was that at the end of their term of office, each official would be paid the amount he or she was shorted from the first day(s) he/she took the oath of office.  At times the difference was only a few cents and made it necessary for this office to audit salaries every two years to verify that the correct amount was paid.
 
II.  POLICY

 
            Since 1987 the State Controller’s office has paid members of the Legislature in the following manner:
 
            The annual salary for each representative is divided by the number of pay periods in the year (normally 26).  No partial payments are made unless for some reason the elected official is not able to complete his or her term of office.
 
            Newly elected officials will receive their first installment the second payday in December.  Their last installment will not be paid until the first payday in December the following year.  The last installment will be adjusted (plus or minus) to insure the exact per annum amount is paid.
 
            If, for some reason, an incumbent is unable to complete his or her term of office, the salary will be pro-rated between the elected and newly appointed official on a full day basis.  This may require that a payroll warrant be cancelled and reissued.
 
                  Reference:  IC 67-406(B)
 
Legislative Appointment Coding Guidelines