HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania lawmakers, top executive branch officials and state judges are in line for 2.8 percent cost-of-living raises as the state grapples with a worsening budget picture.

The increases are tied to the regional consumer price index and boost the pay of more than 2,000 government officials annually, although Gov. Ed Rendell said Thursday he will consider suspending increases for his nonunion appointees and top staff.

On Dec. 1, Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald Castille's salary will rise to nearly $192,000. The pay for county judges will be nearly $162,000 and nearly $81,000 for district justices.

Rank and file members of the state House and Senate will see their base pay increase to just over $78,000. Members of leadership get larger salaries, topping out at just above $122,000 for the House speaker and Senate president pro tempore.

On Thursday, Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati told reporters that he would consider taking away the cost-of-living raises for legislators in discussions about cutting spending to offset a deepening budget deficit.

"Nothing is off the table," Scarnati said. "It's all on the table and we need to work as four caucuses and the governor to come up with a solution."

Scarnati is taking over for the late Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll, who died Nov. 12 after a four-month battle with cancer. He will also take the higher salary of her office, which rises to nearly $147,000 on Jan. 1.

The 2.8 percent increases also are due for Rendell and his top staff on Jan. 1, although the governor says he might suspend them as part of budgetary belt-tightening.

With the increase, Rendell's salary would rise to nearly $175,000 while the state's independently elected row officers would receive salaries of about $145,500.

Cost-of-living raises for most of the state's approximately 80,000 employees are protected by labor contracts.