NORWALK — State Rep. Terry Boose wants to give himself and his fellow state legislators a 5 percent pay cut.

As proposed this week by Boose, the bill would, if approved, cut the salaries of Ohio’s elected officials, including its 99 representatives, 33 senators, the governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, state auditor and treasurer. By law, such a change cannot go into effect until the next term, which begins in 2011. The measure does not affect the salaries of local officials or judges.

“I can’t tell the people in my district that it’s OK for me to continue getting my salary when they’re laid off and can’t find work,” Boose said. “Our job is getting Ohio’s economy back up and running again where it should be. If we can’t do that, we shouldn’t be paid.”

A former Huron County commissioner, Boose, a Republican, represents the 58th Ohio House District which encompasses all of Huron County, the western and southern portions of Lorain County, including Amherst, Wellington and Vermilion, and the eastern half of Seneca County.

For the past several months, Huron County has had the dubious distinction of having one of Ohio’s highest unemployment rates. The county made slight gains in May and now has a jobless figure of 15.7 percent, second only to Williams County’s 16.3 percent.

Under a “sunset” provision, the pay cut would remain in effect until such time as Ohio’s gross domestic product grows by at least 2.5 percent or more in at least two of three consecutive years.

“Hopefully that can happen between now and the end of the next elected cycle in two to four years,” Boose said.

Boose said he didn’t introduce the pay cut measure because he felt legislators are overpaid. According to the League of Women Voters, representatives earn $56,261 a year. Boose estimated the measure would save the state $400,000 to $500,000 a year.

Once the pay cut is discussed and understood, Boose believes fellow legislators may be willing to seek pay cuts of 7 percent to as much as 10 percent.

“We haven’t passed any bills or done anything to put people back to work,” he said. “We have to cut back on spending at the state level, to get money into businesses’ hands to expand or keep going so we can bring jobs in. It’s all about jobs.”

Boose said he would press for greater economic development issues.

Although terming the pay cut measure a bipartisan effort, Boose said that its sole sponsors to date are himself and fellow Republican Seth Morgan of Huber Heights, a Dayton suburb. The measure has drawn public support from one Democrat, State Rep. Sandra Harwood from Trumbull County.

Boose anticipates gaining more support from both parties once the measure reaches committee. He said the measure will most likely be assigned to the state policy committee.

Contact Steve Fogarty at 329-7146 or sfogarty@chroniclet.com.

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