Oregon Public Broadcasting

Gov. Ted Kulongoski Wednesday informed the state’s agency directors that they would not be receiving a 3-percent pay raise this year.

The news affects 60 agency directors – the executive directors of agencies from the Energy Department to the Board of Massage Therapists.

The Governor’s office says the pay hikes were standard cost of living raises.

They would have cost the state $25,000 a month, or about $200,000 for the remainder of the state’s two-year budget.

Governor Chris Gregoire has rescinded Washington state’s annual cost of living raises as well.

Anna Richter Taylor is a spokeswoman for Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski.

Anna Richter Taylor: “The Governor’s following national economic trends. And then, we’ve also seen that Oregon’s not insulated from those trends and it’s having an impact on Oregon’s economy. We’re recognizing that families are having to tighten their belts right now. The Governor’s very concerned about it, and he recognizes that when families have to tighten their belts, state government also has to.”

Oregon Republican lawmakers cheered the decision.

The executive repeal does not affect any proposed pay hikes for elected officials, including the Governor himself.

The state’s Public Officials Compensation Commission is set to make its final recommendation about those pay bumps on October 1st.