Nov 17, 2015 2 min read

HARRISBURG – For the first time in six years, the top elected and appointed officials in Pennsylvania state government won’t be getting automatic pay raises.

A 1995 law authorized annual raises to offset increases in the cost of living for hundreds of judges, legislators and executive branch officials, as measured by the federal consumer price index.

But the index for the four-state region that includes Pennsylvania declined during the federal fiscal year that ended in October, leaving salaries for Pennsylvanian officeholders unchanged. The Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics cited a decline in energy prices, mostly due to a 31 percent drop in gasoline prices, in announcing the October index Tuesday.

It was the first time the index has declined since 2009, said Dan Egan of the governor’s Office of Administration.

Last year, top state officials were awarded a 1.6 percent increase, which translated into raises of more than $3,000 for some of the highest-paid people.

Members of the judiciary generally receive the highest salaries, including more than $203,000 for a justice on the state Supreme Court and nearly $177,000 for county judges.

In the executive branch, the lieutenant governor’s salary is about $160,000, while the head of a large agency, such as the departments of Correction or Transportation is set at about $153,000. The governor’s salary is about $191,000, but incumbent Tom Wolf is not accepting a paycheck. Wolf gives his paycheck to charity through the State Employee Combined Appeal.

A rank-and-file legislator earns about $85,000. Leadership positions pay more .

to reflect increasing responsibilities, up to more than $133,000 each for the presiding officers of the House and Senate.