County officials hoping for raise

Adrienne Packer

Monday, Jan. 15, 2001 | 11:04 a.m.

Clark County elected officials who haven't seen a pay raise in six years will receive a significant boost in July if the state Legislature approves a new salary compensation bill.

Elected officials, who include the recorder, assessor, clerk, sheriff, public administrator, treasurer and commissioners, would be given a 27 percent pay increase under the bill endorsed by the Nevada Association of Counties.

The proposal suggests adjusting a statewide salary table that lists counties in six classes depending on size, workload and responsibility. Clark County is in the category that pays the most, which according to some isn't enough.

"Clark County of course is so large, so much different than any other county in the state, they're in a class by themselves," Bob Hadfield, executive director of the association, said.

"The Legislature needs to look at re-basing Clark County because of its extraordinary growth."

Along with the raise, the association will pursue another bill that could give elected officials annual raises to "stop the lunacy" of six-year pay-increase droughts.

Hadfield said elected officials would receive a cost-of-living bump and either the average pay raise given to individual county employees during the year or the average gain by private sector employees -- whichever amount is less.

If county employees are not given pay raises, neither will elected officials.

"This system has a lot of checks and balances in it to allay any fears that fatter salaries might be negotiated," Hadfield said.

The 27 percent increase would boost the pay from $72,000 to $91,440 for the clerk, assessor, recorder, treasurer and public administrator. The sheriff's salary would increase from $84,000 to $106,680, and the district attorney's pay would rise from $108,000 to $128,016.

Clark County commissioners, who make $54,000 annually, would receive $68,580.

While all of the other elected officials hold full-time positions, commissioners' jobs are categorized as part time. Hadfield acknowledged some might believe $68,580 is excessive for a part-time job, but he said most board members work at least 40-hour weeks.

"They are held to the highest standard anyone can be held to," Hadfield said.