Directors of North Dakota's workers compensation agency decided to raise their daily compensation for meetings from $104 to $135, which will equal what state lawmakers are paid for a day at the Legislature.

Board members also approved a half-day's pay for travel time and meeting preparation for attending meetings of the full board, which has 11 members, and meetings of any subcommittees.

The Workforce Safety and Insurance board has three permanent subcommittees, which meet regularly. The full board has met at least four times each year, but a recent consultant's report suggested it should meet at least six times annually.

A state audit, and a consulting report on WSI's management practices, have both endorsed the idea of raising board members' pay considerably more than what the directors approved Thursday.

One report suggested a range of $17,000 to $28,750 annually, while the other mentioned that Utah paid its workers' compensation directors up to $75,000 each year.

Board member John Dyste and its chairman, Mark Gjovig, said the suggested numbers were not practical, and other board members said they did not want to invite public criticism by voting themselves large pay raises.

"Those dollars aren't going to make our lives any different, or change the way we do our jobs, so why even go there?" Gjovig asked.

North Dakota legislators are now paid $125 a day, seven days a week, when the Legislature is in session. However, the rate will rise to $135 daily on July 1, and board members said they will link their compensation to legislators' session pay.