City considers pay for workers called by military

Diana Sahagun

Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2001 | 9:30 a.m.

The city of Las Vegas could become the first government in the Las Vegas Valley to set aside money to supplement salaries for its employees who are called to active military duty in connection with the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The City Council today was to consider a proposal to set aside $500,000 to make up the difference between the employees' salaries and military wages for six months, until March 2002.

In the event of a continued national emergency, the council would re-evaluate the resolution and extend the payment period if needed.

The city passed a similar resolution in 1990 during the Gulf War, when 45 employees were called to active duty.

So far, five employees have been called to active duty, city officials said Tuesday.

Councilwoman Lynette Boggs McDonald, who spent her childhood on American Army bases where her father was stationed in Germany and Italy, said having financial stability is important for families facing uncertain times. She said she can relate to what the families are going through, having a father who was often called to duty for military exercises.

"It's a very disconcerting feeling. ... You really didn't know how long they would be gone, and there was always that possibility that they would never come back," she said.

Boggs McDonald said she spoke to the wife of a city employee who was called on Friday and told to report to the Navy two days later. The wife was concerned that her husband's military pay was $1,000 less a month than his city salary.

"The fiscal impact to us is $500,000, which is a small token of what we can do for those service members that are city employees and willing to fight for our country," Boggs McDonald said.

The Henderson City Council is scheduled to consider a similar resolution at its next regular meeting, Oct. 16, said Daryl Moore, director of the city's Human Resources department.

Clark County officials were scheduled to meet with Henderson officials today to discuss adopting a similar plan, Human Resources Assistant Director Ray Visconti said.

North Las Vegas employees called to active duty will receive their full city pay for 30 days, then must go on unpaid leave from the city, spokeswoman Brenda Johnson said.

In addition to paying employees the difference between their city and military salaries, Henderson's resolution proposes to cover health- care costs for the employees' children for six months.

"We're attempting to make life as easy as possible for the dependents of our employees that are called into active duty," Moore said.