(1) The salaries paid to the following elected officials are determined as provided in subsection (2):
(a) governor;
(b) lieutenant governor;
(c) attorney general;
(d) state auditor, ex officio commissioner of securities and insurance;
(e) superintendent of public instruction;
(f) public service commission presiding officer;
(g) public service commissioners, other than presiding officer;
(h) secretary of state;
(i) clerk of the supreme court.
(2) Before June 30 of each even-numbered year, the department of administration shall conduct a salary survey of executive branch officials with similar titles to the Montana officials listed in subsection (1) for the states of North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Idaho. The department shall include the salary for the Montana official in determining the average salary for the officials with similar titles. If the average salary is greater than the salary for the official in Montana, then beginning July 1 of the year following the year in which the survey is conducted, the average salary is the new salary for the official.