Discussion: 9 comments so far...

1. By Babyboomer

   2/8/09 at 3:50 p.m.

   Suggest removal

   More in line ? You guys should be damn lucky you're still holding onto your jobs. I hope you're saving your money...the unemployment line is just around the corner.

2. By bobbeers

   2/8/09 at 5:51 p.m.

   Suggest removal

   Pretty damaging comparison for the unions, after you hold their ad up to a reality check light.

   http://nevadataxpayer.com/archives/365

3. By getalife

   2/8/09 at 7:34 p.m.

   Suggest removal

   The Chamber of self-interest had better watch out. The fats are going to targeted now.

4. By JSin

   2/9/09 at 8:40 a.m.

   Suggest removal

   It is interesting to note all salaries in the private sector with the exception of Sheriff Gilespie and Chief Gammon are base salaries. Let's take a quick look at what happens to the cops salary when you add overtime:
   From the sun a couple years ago

   >"In a state known for being stingy with public dollars, a review by the Sun of government salaries in Southern Nevada has found that the percentage of public employees pulling down six-figure salaries is three times the 5 percent national average for all workers, public and private - even though that average includes major metropolitan areas with far higher costs of living."<
   http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2007/feb...

   Now I do agree that teachers need a raise desperately, and personally I would be willing to pay a bit more in taxes to make that happen.

   When you add in the various fringe benefits of the Fire and Rescue dept they seem to be fairly compensated.

   Law enforcement needs to be reigned in both in ongoing cost and labor. When you begin to add the costs of the sweet patrol cars, the mass of computer tech in each of those cars and the various other toys it becomes clear that the expenditure is wasted. Including the money spent on the cops themselves.

   I know the next argument. "What would you do if there were no cops to save you"

   Well the cops don't save you. They investigate after the fact. If you are being robbed what are the chances they are going to show up to save you? Seriously. You have 5 minutes to wait after the call. If you are lucky.

   Adjusted for various benefits the cops are very well paid for a job poorly done. Perhaps they should be on a metric similar to private sector. Give em a slightly higher salary, but dust pension, lifetime medical, overtime, and the like. Make it easier to fire or otherwise eliminate non productive employees, scale extraneous expenditures like state of the art computer systems from their cars, hold them to a higher level of accountability for violations of the statutes they are sworn to uphold.

   JSin

5. By Wolfdog

   2/9/09 at 9:36 a.m.

   Suggest removal

   The cops are just greedy how many police officers have there BA or Masters. All most of them have is a high school education. Which explain why a young man was killed for playing his radio to loud on the strip, a young pregnant (4 months) woman was gun down while holding a butter knife. The police association saying welcome to Martin Luther Coon Day.and on and on.

6. By KillerB

   2/9/09 at 9:46 a.m.

   Suggest removal

   Maybe I'm ignorant on this, but isn't the CofC private? Or at least privately (by its members) funded?

   I don't have sympathy for the top cop, fire chief, etc., whining about what they make. How many of them stepped up to be elected for their jobs, knowing what the pay would be? And the echoes of comments so far are right on -- be glad you have your jobs, considering how badly the tax base is eroding.

   As for teachers, regular cops, firefighters, etc. -- sort of the same applies, since they applied for the jobs and agreed to their contracts. Then consider what they get after benefits, including pensions, 401(k)s, all that, is factored in.

   We as the paying (or extorted, depending on your point of view) public need to look where they're not wanting us to look -- the bottom line. Since they work for us it's ultimately up to us anyway.

7. By stopcomplaining

   2/10/09 at 11:50 a.m.

   Suggest removal

   does anyone understand that although they make more money, they risk more. Let's look at Fire - it should be understood that it's cheaper to pay overtime than to hire and train more. If it makes you feel better, the guys that train firefighters are underpaid, just like the teachers. SO what if they make 100k - they work 24 hour shifts. They don't get holidays or weekends off, and they should get benefits...just like the military. SPend more time defending the interest of others and less time complaining. If you want your children to learn more - teach them more at home. Then they wouldn't be holding the other kids back.

8. By neiman1

   2/10/09 at 2:56 p.m.

   Suggest removal

   12% fewer visitors to Las Vegas but I have seen nothing of a drop in the number of police officers.

9. By johnevegas

   2/10/09 at 3:51 p.m.

   Suggest removal

   I noted that metro picked out the cream of the crop from the LV chamber. The prez and two in charge of sales? I.E. those in charge of the Chamber's survival.

   Eh...hemm...perhaps if metro had ANYTHING to do with driving Las Vegas business and commerce, the positions would pay better? Otherwise, why not compare to Steve or Phil or Sheldon? Okay maybe not Sheldon, but you get my point.

   This is a disingenuous ad to say the least. More evidence that Metro thinks the public is stupid I guess.

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