Six Delaware legislators earn two state paychecks
Scott Goss
Six lawmakers are working two jobs at taxpayers' expense.
For half of them, that added income is pushing their base pay over the $100,000 mark, according to a database of state employee salaries provided by the state Office of Management and Budget.
That's a pretty good deal, considering they also get to vote on their own pay raises — in some cases for both gigs.
Earlier this year, for instance, both chambers voted to give themselves — and thousands of other state workers — a $1,000 raise. Public school teachers got a 2 percent raise.
House and Senate members now earn a base salary of $46,291.
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Several lawmakers make a bit more because they hold a leadership position or serve on one of three joint committees. House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf and Senate President David McBride each pull down $66,184 — the top salary for lawmakers.
But five Democrats and one Republican — all of whom serve in the House — have a full- or part-time job that allows them to collect a second paycheck from the state.
The list of double dippers includes:
1. Michael P. Mulrooney, D-New Castle
$50,143: Base legislative pay, plus a seat on the Bond Bill committee
$74,081: Salary as an adult program specialist at New Castle County Vo-Tech's Delaware Skills Center
$124,224: Total
2. John Mitchell, D-Elsmere
$50,143: Legislative pay, plus a seat on the Bond Bill committee
$56,334: Salary as chief of public safety for Delaware Technical Community College
$106,477: Total
3. Sean Matthews, D-Talleyville
$46,291: Legislative pay
$59,117: Salary as a special education teacher in the Brandywine School District
$105,408: Total
4. Helene Keeley, D-Wilmington
$46,291: Legislative pay
$46,334: Salary as a community relations coordinator for the Delaware Department of Labor
$92,625: Total
5. Andria Bennett, D-Dover
$50,143: Legislative pay plus a seat on the Sunset Committee
$34 per hour: Pay for teaching a course in human relations at DelTech
Total varies depending on hours worked
6. Jeff Spiegelman, R-Townsend
$50,143: Legislative pay plus a seat on the Sunset Committee
$34 per hour: Pay for teaching history and political science courses at DelTech
Total varies depending on hours worked
EDITOR'S NOTE: The salary figures cited in this report include only base pay and not overtime, benefits, stipends, bonuses or other forms of compensation.
Contact reporter Scott Goss at (302) 324-2281, sgoss@delawareonline.com or on Twitter @ScottGossDel.