Raises for state workers endorsed

Friday, May 4, 2001 | 9:55 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- A 4 percent cost-of-living raise for each of the next two years for state employees gained the endorsements of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce and the Nevada Taxpayers Association Thursday.

About 200 state workers attended a rally in front of the Legislative Building, some of them carrying signs praising Gov. Kenny Guinn for protecting the pay raises in his budget.

Kami Dempsey, spokeswoman for the chamber, told the group that state workers have gone too long without a pay raise.

Dempsey said the chamber also endorsed Guinn's proposal for $57.5 million to finance a one-time bonus for schoolteachers, which would amount to about 5 percent.

It was the chamber that led the fight against the plan by the schoolteachers' union to impose a business profits tax to help fund education.

Carole Vilardo, executive director of the Nevada Taxpayers Association, sent a letter saying that the pay raise for state workers should be retained in the budget.

Guinn said he and legislative leaders have agreed to keep the pay raises for state workers and the bonus for schoolteachers, despite the fact $121.5 million will have to be shaved from the two-year budget because tax collections are expected to be lower than expected.