North Las Vegas Mayor, council considering pay raises

Diana Sahagun

Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2000 | 11:07 a.m.

Future North Las Vegas City Council members could see a $16,000 annual salary increase in the coming election year, under an ordinance to be introduced this week.

The ordinance, which will be proposed to the City Council Wednesday night, would raise the salary for future council members, the mayor and the Municipal Court judge in 2001. The final vote on the ordinance is planned for Jan. 19.

Mayor Michael Montandon, Municipal Court Judge Warren Van Landschoot and council members John Rhodes and Stephanie Smith could be first to feel the effect of a raise if it passes and they are re-elected. They have terms ending June 30, 2001.

The increase would go into effect after the 2001 election for all newly elected or re-elected council members. Council members William Robinson and Shari Buck are serving terms that end in 2003.

Currently, Montandon earns an annual salary of $23,500, and City Council members pull in $18,500. The council members are considered part-time employees, most with outside jobs.

The proposed ordinance would increase the mayor's salary to $39,500, and the City Council members' salaries would more than double, to $34,500. The future Municipal Court judge's yearly salary would be set at $90,000, up from $68,000.

City Council members would also receive a car allowance of $500 a month, and the mayor would receive an allowance $600 a month.

The pay raise would put the officials closer to their Las Vegas counterparts. Mayor Oscar Goodman earns an annual salary of $49,325, while Las Vegas City Council members earn $37,545. Those too are considered part-time positions.

The last pay raise for the North Las Vegas City Council went into effect in 1993. In 1992 the council adopted an ordinance that tied future raises to the national Consumer Price Index and an annual cost-of-living adjustment.

City Attorney Sean McGowan said the increase was based on a salary survey, and that the increase would bring the numbers in line with the city of Henderson and other councils.

Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson earns $26,163 per year, while Henderson council salaries range from $22,324 to $34,250.

The Henderson City Council passed an ordinance in 1998 that will increase council members' salaries in 2001.