Minnesota compensation council backs $500 daily pay for Direct Care & Treatment board

The Minnesota Compensation Council voted to recommend a $500 per‑day compensation rate for voting members of the new Direct Care & Treatment (DCT) executive board, with the council specifying the pay applies to formal board meetings and takes effect July 1.

The proposal had been one of three staff options for the DCT board’s per‑diem: the statutory default of $55 per day, a midline $125 figure used for other public member stipends, and a $500 daily rate that had been included in an earlier executive branch proposal. Staff clarified the $500 figure reflected an earlier department recommendation and that the council, by statute, bears responsibility for setting the rate.

Supporters said the DCT board will undertake complex governance tasks and that a higher per‑diem would help recruit qualified members. Opponents warned the increase would be seen as an eight‑hundred‑percent raise relative to the statutory default and noted pressure on the state budget; several members asked whether the council had authority to make the rate retroactive and staff confirmed the effective date would be July 1, not retroactive.

After discussion and a recorded roll call, the motion recommending the $500 daily rate for voting members (applied only to formal board meetings) carried. Staff were directed to incorporate the recommendation and clarifying language into the draft report to be circulated before the council’s March 26 meeting.

Why it matters: The DCT board will exercise significant authority in overseeing direct care facilities and services. Raising the per‑diem to $500 increases the council’s near‑term outlays modestly but signals a policy choice to pay for external expertise rather than rely solely on internal staff or unpaid public members.

Next steps: Staff will draft the recommendation and the statutory language clarifications for council review ahead of the March 26 meeting.