ST. PAUL — Members of Gov. Mark Dayton’s cabinet are getting raises of tens of thousands of dollars, a move the Democrat says is necessary to “keep and attract” the best candidates to the jobs.

The pay hikes range from 19 percent to 58 percent. Lawmakers were notified of the raises 30 days after they took effect.

“In state government we need to keep and attract the best, talented people. … It’s essential to pay them closer to what they are worth,” Dayton said. He added that commissioner salaries have not been raised in 10 years and said he thinks lawmakers deserve a raise too.

The smallest raise was $22,407 to the Ombudsman for Mental Health, who will now earn $119,997. Top commissioners got 30 percent raises.

Also getting a boost is the chairman of the Metropolitan Council, the regional planning agency for the Twin Cities. The job changed from part time to full time and the pay increased by $83,577 to $144,991.

Republican State Rep. Roz Peterson said she thinks the pay hikes are too high, especially as the state is coming out of a recession.

She told the station: “These are people who are public servants, and I think it’s a little inappropriate at this time to do those kinds of jumps.”

Dayton won re-election in November and has said it was his last race.