Goodman supports car allowance

Judy Odierna

Friday, Nov. 15, 2002 | 10:29 a.m.

Mayor Oscar Goodman is all in favor of the Las Vegas City Council getting a car allowance, though he won't be needing it.

Thanks to John Tomaras and Cadillac of Las Vegas, Goodman will be cruising around the city in a brand new, black 2003 Cadillac Seville STS that he said was donated to the city.

"I go from one hotel to another and I don't tip less than five dollars and I never ask for reimbursements," Goodman said Thursday at his weekly news conference. "But I am not going to take (the car allowance) because I don't need it."

Tomaras said his generosity is part of a publicity campaign he hopes will help generate interest and business in the Cadillac.

"We're trying to put cars where people will notice them," Tomaras said. "It was just a corporate donation to the city for them to use it for whatever or for whoever wants to drive it."

Tomaras said the donation was not done in hopes of gaining a favor in the future.

"Our building has been here forever," he said. "And I think we are located in the county to be honest with you."

Both of the dealership's locations -- on West Sahara and East Sahara -- are on the south side of the street and outside the city limits, according to the county assessor's office.

In a memo sent to Goodman on Thursday from City Manager Doug Selby, Selby says that his office will have a set of keys for the car and that it would be used for VIP tours during business hours. Selby acknowledged that since Goodman is usually part of ceremonial functions he would also have a set of keys and would be allowed to take the car home. Selby said Goodman should use the car in accordance with city procedure for take-home vehicles but recognizes that Goodman's "on-call status is like that of our emergency services management staff."

Though Goodman says he won't take a car allowance for himself, he thinks the remaining council members should get the additional money.

"Certainly a car allowance is the least we are entitled to," Goodman said. "Every other jurisdiction has a car allowance."

A bill that would raise the council's salaries by $8,000 a year coupled with an additional $7,200 from a $600 monthly car allowance is expected to come before the council Wednesday. The mayor would get about $9,700 more a year and $10,800 from a $900 monthly car allowance. Selby has said he proposed the bill, not the council.

Goodman didn't take a position on the proposed salary increase.

"As far as a raise, I don't see it as unfair but it may be seen as incorrect," he said.