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Oregon Ballot Measure 116

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Ballot Measure 116
Independent Public Service Compensation Commission Amendment: Establishes “Independent Public Service Compensation Commission” to determine salaries for specified officials; eliminates legislative authority to set such salaries.
Results
Choice
 Votes %
Yes 981,715 47.54%
No 1,083,451 52.46%

Oregon Ballot Measure 116, the Independent Public Service Compensation Commission Amendment, was a proposed amendment to the Constitution of Oregon that was decided by voters as part of the 2024 Oregon elections on November 5, 2024.[1][2] If approved, it would have established an "Independent Public Service Compensation Commission", which would determine salaries for politicians and other government figures in the state.[3]

Positions for and against

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Newspaper editorials have pointed out that the Commission would not be independent from the Oregon Legislature, which would later determine who would get appointed to the Commission and how it would operate. The Oregonian editorial board stated in its opposition:

Legislators and measure supporters are painting this measure as a way to put the power in the hands of the people and prevent “politicians from meddling in the process,” when it actually takes away accountability to the public.[4]

Willamette Week editorialized:

Currently, as is the case in 30 other states, legislators have the authority to set their own salaries. Although they have long grumbled about low pay and their workload has increased, lawmakers have lacked the political courage to tackle the issue for themselves.

In a hurried process in 2023, lawmakers proposed enshrining in the constitution a salary commission, which would set salaries for statewide elected officials, judges, district attorneys—and lawmakers.

There is no requirement, however, that the commission be bipartisan or nonpartisan, and there are few limits on whom the Legislature can appoint to that commission: state employees, lobbyists and officials’ family members are barred, but everybody else, including donors and political consultants, is eligible.

But the biggest red flag: Unlike virtually any other action a government body might take, no review or appeal of the salary commission’s decisions is allowed, according to the measure’s official explanatory statement: “Determinations of the commission would not be subject to review or modification by the Legislative Assembly, the governor or any other official.”

That’s bad governance. Vote no.[5]

Polling

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Poll source Date(s)

administered

Sample

size[a]

Margin

of error

For Measure 116 Against Measure 116 Undecided
Public Policy Polling (D)[6][b] October 16–17, 2024 716 (LV) ± 3.7% 49% 26% 25%
  1. ^ Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  2. ^ This poll was sponsored by the Northwest Progressive Institute

Results

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Vote tallies by county:[7]

County Yes Votes No Votes Total
Baker 31.46 2,864 68.54 6,240 9,104
Benton 58.14 27,182 41.86 19,573 46,755
Clackamas 46.97 104,845 53.03 118,372 223,217
Clatsop 48.77 10,461 51.23 10,987 21,448
Columbia 40.33 11,731 59.67 17,359 29,090
Coos 39.68 13,004 60.32 19,766 32,770
Crook 35.81 5,490 64.19 9,840 15,330
Curry 43.68 5,694 56.32 7,341 13,035
Deschutes 48.85 57,345 51.15 60,052 117,397
Douglas 34.95 20,123 65.05 37,457 57,580
Gilliam 35.44 381 64.56 694 1,075
Grant 29.31 1,214 70.69 2,928 4,142
Harney 31.67 1,270 68.33 2,740 4,010
Hood River 57.11 6,668 42.89 5,007 11,675
Jackson 44.09 48,747 55.91 61,821 110,568
Jefferson 37.98 4,192 62.02 6,844 11,036
Josephine 30.48 13,960 69.52 31,840 45,800
Klamath 34.29 11,228 65.71 21,518 32,746
Lake 30.33 1,205 69.67 2,768 3,973
Lane 54.11 104,384 45.89 88,536 192,920
Lincoln 50.17 13,886 49.83 13,794 27,680
Linn 38.24 25,478 61.76 41,155 66,633
Malheur 32.97 3,395 67.03 6,903 10,298
Marion 44.02 64,133 55.98 81,561 145,694
Morrow 34.06 1,501 65.94 2,906 4,407
Multnomah 52.73 198,771 47.27 178,186 376,957
Polk 43.66 19,320 56.34 24,930 44,250
Sherman 24.77 274 75.23 832 1,106
Tillamook 44.15 6,674 55.85 8,443 15,117
Umatilla 36.08 10,405 63.92 18,433 28,838
Union 35.55 4,868 64.45 8,827 13,695
Wallowa 36.08 1,724 63.92 3,054 4,778
Wasco 42.78 5,273 57.22 7,053 12,326
Washington 54.90 151,162 45.10 124,201 275,363
Wheeler 31.62 258 68.38 558 816
Yamhill 42.22 22,605 57.78 30,932 53,537

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Bourgeois, Michaela (August 2, 2024). "Oregon voters to decide on 5 ballot measures in 2024 November election". KOIN. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  2. ^ Fuentes, Carlos (October 13, 2024). "Election 2024: Your guide to Oregon's November election". The Oregonian. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  3. ^ "Measure 116 would change who sets salaries for state elected officials - Oregon Center for Public Policy". 2024-10-17. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
  4. ^ Board, The Oregonian Editorial (2024-09-29). "Editorial endorsement November 2024: Vote 'no' on Measure 116, the Legislature's accountability dodge". oregonlive. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
  5. ^ "WW's Fall 2024 Endorsements: Ballot Measures". Willamette Week. 2024-10-16. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
  6. ^ Villeneuve, Andrew (October 24, 2024). "Oregon voters are split on ranked choice voting initiative, while poised to reject rebate plan and accept constitutional changes". Northwest Progressive Institute. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
  7. ^ "November 5, 2024, General Election Abstract of Votes" (PDF). Oregon Secretary of State. November 5, 2024. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
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