Editorial: Awful way to go about raising pay

Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2002 | 8:58 a.m.

Members of the Las Vegas City Council currently receive $40,664 a year and the mayor is paid $53,442. But City Manager Doug Selby is proposing that the City Council approve substantial raises, increasing the annual salary and benefits to $56,000 for council members and $74,000 for the mayor. Selby's plan includes a $600 per month car allowance for council members and $900 monthly for the mayor. The boost in compensation could not go into effect for the council members and the mayor until each stand for re-election. It is legitimate to consider whether a pay raise is warranted -- their last increase was 16 years ago -- but the current proposal should be rejected by the City Council, which is scheduled to formally introduce the plan on Wednesday.

Traditionally, elected officials receive pay increases only after they've faced the voters again. But if this sizable compensation increase is to be considered at all, in fairness it should be placed on the ballot as a referendum so voters can decide the issue on its own merits. That's because in recent years we've seen too often elections that aren't real contests. Incumbents build huge campaign war chests to ward off credible opponents, a situation that often means either no candidates file against them or a one-sided race develops because the challengers have no money to wage an effective campaign. Another defect with the proposal is that other future pay raises, which would be linked to parity with Clark County Commission salaries and the consumer price index, could occur without a City Council vote. At the very least, officials should stand for re-ele ction again before any cost-of-living increase, or a hike triggered to a boost in County Commission salaries, becomes effec! tive.

Yet one more problem with the proposal is the monthly car allowance. If council members and the mayor are going to be reimbursed at all for traveling while on official business -- $7,200 for council members and $10,800 per year for the mayor seem excessive -- then it should be done on actual costs incurred. Just like any other government employee, they should turn in an expense report and make a full accounting to the public.

It also shouldn't be forgotten that times are tough now. Many residents may have to face higher taxes because of dwindling revenues. Some important government programs may be cut as well. It is not the right time, then, to consider big raises for elected officials.