Boulder City Council approves pay raise

Wednesday, June 28, 2000 | 10:27 a.m.

Boulder City Council members voted to give themselves a raise for the first time since 1991, boosting their annual pay 50 percent and giving the mayor a higher salary than his counterparts in Carson City and Elko.

Boulder City Council members salaries will increase $5,000 to $15,363 annually. The mayor will receive an $8,000 raise to $20,857 a year. The raises go into effect July 1, 2001.

City staff recommended raising council salaries to bring them more in line with those paid in Las Vegas, North Las Vegas and Henderson.

Critics, however, said that with a population of slightly more than 14,000, Boulder City should be comparing itself with communities such as Mesquite or Elko.

In Mesquite, home to 10,000 residents, council members earn $10,000 a year. The mayor makes $13,000 annually. Council members in Elko, population 19,200, earn $9,636 a year, while the mayor receives $14,460.

The pay increase means that Boulder City Mayor Bob Ferraro's salary also will be higher than the mayor of Carson City, who makes $18,600 yearly. Carson City has a population of nearly 50,000.

Boulder City council members and the mayor have not received a pay raise, except for Consumer Price Index increases, since 1991. The salaries of both positions have decreased as a percentage of the city's general fund from 1 percent to 0.7 percent during the past nine years.

Some citizens argued against the raise. They said the increase was considered before the most recent election without proper public notice.

Other residents said the pay increase was minor in comparison with the large number of duties carried out by council members.