Boulder City council members consider taking big pay increases

Greg Harman

Friday, June 9, 2000 | 11:06 a.m.

Members of the Boulder City Council are considering a hefty pay hike.

The increase, which would take effect after next year's general election, would raise the salaries of council members by more than $400 a month and the mayor by more than $660 a month.

The proposal to raise the council member's salaries from $10,363 to $15,363 a year and boost the mayor's from $12,857 to $20,857 will be presented to the council Tuesday night.

Mayor Bob Ferraro said the proposed raise is far less than originally proposed. City staff recommended lifting salaries by nearly 200 percent in September 1999, but the overture was resisted by the council as well as many Boulder City residents.

Critical residents attending an April workshop spoke against the proposal, reminding council members that theirs was a part-time job. One woman suggested any raise should hinge on the approval of Boulder City residents.

Boulder City Manager John Sullard said the increased salaries would "democratize" city government by allowing those with lesser means to hold office.

"There are some people who can't afford to run for council because they can't cut into their business that much," Sullard said.

The originally-recommended 200 percent raise was intended to bring the council salaries up to 80 percent of the average of their Las Vegas Valley neighbors in Henderson, Las Vegas and North Las Vegas, Sullard said.

But any raise would not affect the pay of the city leaders until after this election cycle expires. Councilmen Bill Smith and Mike Pacini could potentially not see any approved raise if they fail to retain their seats in next year's election.

In addition to their regular pay, the mayor and councilmen receive a monthly auto allowance of $450.

The item is expected to go up for a vote at the regular council meeting of June 27.