AP Wire

Dardenne’s new job as budget adviser comes with pay hike

by The Associated Press

With Dardenne's new role comes a salary of $237,500. That's a sizable pay boost from his current $115,000 salary as a statewide elected official.

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne will double his state paycheck when he takes over as Gov.-elect John Bel Edwards' chief budget adviser.

Dardenne will become Edwards' commissioner of administration on Jan. 11, when the new governor is sworn in. With Dardenne's new role comes a salary of $237,500.

That's a sizable pay boost from his current $115,000 salary as a statewide elected official, established in state law.

Dardenne's salary also will be higher than what term-limited Gov. Bobby Jindal pays his commissioner of administration: $204,400, according to civil service data.

Edwards spokesman Richard Carbo says the governor-elect is evaluating cabinet secretary salaries on "a case-by-case basis and making adjustments, in either direction, where he sees fit."

Edwards' revenue secretary pick, Kimberly Robinson, will make $250,000, the same salary her predecessor receives.