Nebraska Auditor Salary Increase Considered Amidst Pay Disparities

The Nebraska State Auditor’s remuneration has come under scrutiny, prompting discussions about potential salary adjustments. With a current annual salary of $85,000, the state’s auditor is reportedly the lowest-paid across the nation. This issue was highlighted during a committee hearing where State Auditor Mike Foley shared his perspective on the necessity for a salary increase.

“The Nebraska auditor is the lowest paid state auditor in the country. If hypothetically you were to raise the salary of all our constitutional officers by $15,000, I would still be the lowest paid auditor in the country, but at least you’d be taking that first initial step toward addressing the problem,” Foley stated.

Foley presented comparative data revealing that auditors in neighboring states earn significantly more, with salaries ranging from just over $103,000 in Iowa to more than $280,000 in Tennessee.

In addition to salary discussions, Foley has garnered attention following his inquiries into a $2.5 million no-bid contract awarded by Governor Jim Pillen’s administration to an economic development consultant. This matter has been referred to Attorney General Mike Hilgers for further review.

Attorney General Hilgers, who also attended the committee meeting, was questioned by Senator Machaela Cavanaugh regarding a potential investigation into the contract. While Hilgers refrained from commenting on the specifics, he explained the general process his office follows when evaluating such referrals.

“Well, the auditor’s not a lawyer, so sometimes he sends us stuff that there’s nothing there, sometimes there is, but we always evaluate it. And if there is a reason to investigate, we will send it to the State Patrol. If the State Patrol has a conflict, then we will send it to some other investigator, investigatory law enforcement agency, often the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office or LPD, then they present those findings to us as prosecutors, assuming we’re not conflicted out in the case, that we make a determination as to whether or not there’s a prosecution to be had,” Hilgers explained.

Furthermore, Hilgers discussed a separate legal matter concerning potential litigation costs against Colorado over the proposed Perkins County Canal. The litigation expenses are projected to fall between $4-$7 million, although the U.S. Supreme Court has yet to decide on whether to hear the case.