After complaining it didn’t have money for more workers, the state Ethics Commission should have hired new staff with its budget increase.
The commission has a running battle with the state Legislature over funding. This year the commission received a $150,000 increase, then used the money to increase salaries.
The executive director’s annual salary went from $84,802 to $110,242. The director probably deserved a raise, but the commission should have given modest raises and hired one more person to do its work.
It has drawn a lot of sympathy because of its plight, and this move undermines that support.
