Governor Strickland turns down pay increase

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Ohio Governor Ted Strickland (D-Lisbon)

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Gov. Ted Strickland has turned down a $4,000 raise scheduled for 2008 and plans to reimburse the state for the cost of his health insurance.

Spokesman Keith Dailey says the governor, who makes about $145,000 a year, won’t take the planned 2.8 percent increase in salary. By law, the governor receives a 3 percent or less increase in pay every year.

Earlier this year, Strickland froze the salaries of about 3,400 nonunion state employees, including cost-of-living adjustments and merit raises, citing difficult financial conditions in Ohio’s struggling economy.