Minnesota Agencies

State law has established a Compensation Council to meet in the odd numbered years to make recommendations to the legislature regarding the salaries of judges, and to prescribe salaries for constitutional officers and for the agency and metropolitan agency heads noted in Minn. Stat. 15A.0815.

By April 1 in each odd-numbered year, the council must prescribe salaries for constitutional officers and others as noted in Minn. Stat. 15A.082. By September 1 in each even-numbered year, the council shall submit salary recommendations for justices of the supreme court, and judges of the court of appeals and district court, which would take effect on July 1 of the next year.

In 1983, state law established that the Compensation Council make recommendations to the Legislature regarding salaries for several officials. Historically, the Compensation Council made recommendations for the salary and effective date of that salary for constitutional officers, judges, and several other officials. The 2023 Legislature amended the Compensation Council's statute to empower the Council to prescribe the salary of constitutional officers and other officials noted in Minn. Stat. 15A.0815. The council will continue to simply make recommendations for judges' salaries.

The Compensation Council did not meet in 2003, 2011, or 2015.

The council is comprised of 16 members: eight members appointed by governor, one from each congressional district, of whom no more than four may belong to the same political party; and eight non-judges appointed by the chief justice of the Supreme Court, of whom no more than four may belong to the same political party. Appointments must be made after the first Monday in January and before January 15.

Each Compensation Council shall expire upon submission of the recommendations.