Gov. Robert Bentley’s 2014 tax returns: He’s still not taking salary

0
4
Gov Robert Bentley_AP

Gov. Robert Bentley’s 2014 tax returns show he and his wife reported an income of $217,032 for 2014, but that he is still not accepting a paycheck for being governor.

Bentley released his income tax returns Wednesday, making good on a campaign promise to make his personal financial information public even though it is not required by law.

On Bentley’s 2014 return, he and his wife, Dianne, reported $92,000 in IRA distributions, $83,794 in income from pensions and annuities, and $37,573 in Social Security benefits. The governor and his wife reported giving $13,513 to charity.

The Bentley’s adjusted gross income was $210,327. The governor and first lady reported paying $35,159 in federal taxes and $5,284 in state taxes.

Bentley, who was elected in 2010, campaigned on government transparency. He released his 2009 tax return during the campaign and has continued making public his federal and state tax returns every year since then. The governor is the only statewide-elected official in Alabama who does that. Democrat Parker Griffith, who unsuccessfully challenged Bentley in last year’s election, followed course and released his income tax return.

The Bentleys’ reported household income is about five times the size of Alabama’s median household income of $43,253.

The returns show that Bentley is also fulfilling another campaign promise: to not collect a salary.

Bentley said during the 2010 election that he would not accept the $121,000 annual salary until the state returned to “full employment” — a level he defined as a 5.2 percent unemployment rate. The state’s unemployment rate was 5.8 percent in February.

The 72-year-old Bentley, a dermatologist, maintains his medical license but has retired from full-time practice. He listed his occupation as governor/physician.

The couple’s income is less than the $340,698 they reported in 2009, the last year Bentley worked full time as a doctor.

Republished with permission of The Associated Press.