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StumblePublished Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2009 | 4:37 p.m.
Updated Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009 | 6:33 a.m.
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That's how Jon translated police union veteran David Kallas' description ("anatomy envy") of the effort by the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce to bring government salaries and benefits in line with the private sector. Studies by the Chamber reveal Nevada's average government worker makes $47,450 a year while a private sector employee is paid an average of $37,040 a year, and the state's public retirement benefits rank among the most generous in the nation. Nevada, it should be noted, also employs fewer government workers per capita than other states.
Unfunded pension liabilities are an issue in many states and clearly need to be addressed.
The question in my mind, and Jon asks it... is does a private sector which is increasingly dependent on taxpayers to stay afloat have the moral authority to tell government how to operate?
If you're interested in seeing how employees of the non-profit Chamber are compensated, check out the last page of the Chamber's 2006 tax return. The salary for the average Nevada worker, private or public sector, pales in comparison.
1) It should also be noted that average salaries of state workers in Nevada was $52,000 a year according to the US governments latest figures. Nevada state employee pay ranks 16th highest in the nation.
2) Jon's question is, lets be honest, stupid at best. A few sectors ask for and recieve government help (for no good reason - in fact we never should have done it) and the entire private sector should be punished as a result?
PS, IRS 990 forms for non-profits require only the Top 5 employees paid above $50,000. In some cases more than 5 employees paid over $50,000 are reported. Employees under $50,000 a year in compensation are not reported. This would skew the average if this is the only data you have.
So did you guys do the research to find out if all their employees are listed on the 990?
It looks like they have about 59 employees according to their website -- only 10 of those have their salaries listed on the 990.
Thanks, KDR81. Agreed, the private sector should not be punished as a whole for the wrongdoing of a few, just as homeowners should not be punished for the greed of a few.
So much for that.
As for the 990, the IRS requires compensation be listed for officers, directors and key employees.
I asked the Chamber for updated salaries but its spokeswoman says on the advice of its CPA, the chamber listed only two salaries on in its 2007 return. I'm sure the chamber has employees who earn less than those listed. But should the director of a non-profit earn significantly more than managers of large municipalities??
Federal law requires that private corporations fund 90% of their pension liabilities.
I think most states, including Nevada, fund their pension liabilities around 60% to 70%.
It is crisis mode right now. Eventually, state pension programs will be in extreme crisis mode.
Prediction: One day, probably 20 to 30 years from now, state workers across the nation will see cuts to benefits that they were promise.
The country will not be able to afford it.
The same thing will happen to social security and medicare programs.
Ms. Gentry,
A good question. As it turns out managers of non-profits make a hefty sum of money across the country relative to the average worker. Barbara Buckley for example makes over $140,000 a year with her non-profit organization.
That is not to say political leaders are not well paid. The overall concept, however, was not managers vs. managers but average salary vs. average salary - it is interesting to see the public sector beats out the private sector considering Nevada is so top heavy with big starts, Steve Wynn's and Sheldon Addison's - I would have suspected they would skew the average of private sector employees upward.
I am a state employee and I don't make near $47,450 as a matter my salary tops out at $39,450 after 10 years of service. Longevity pay is nothing, a small 75 dollar check every year that goes up just a few dollars every year. Oh, and I pay taxes, daycare, and everything else the private sector does. There are also a lot of state employees that make less than I do. Yeah lets cut them too. As for our benefits...I pay almost $200 ever month into the plan. Its not a freebee. One study does not tell the whole tale.