Pay raises for sheriffs, DAs gain support

Thursday, Feb. 20, 2003 | 8:48 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- When Bill Young moved up from deputy chief to become Clark County sheriff, he took a $46,000 pay cut.

District Attorney David Rogers, who was a senior trial deputy before his election, lost $27,000 in salary when he won his election.

The Senate Government Affairs Committee on Wednesday heard testimony supporting Senate Bill 53, which would raise the pay of the sheriff from $84,000 to $134,000 and the district attorney's pay from $100,000 to $155,744.

The last pay raises for those two positions came in 1995. Deputies in both offices now make more than their bosses.

Ben Graham, representing the Nevada District Attorneys Association, said it would be 2007 or 2009 before the DAs or sheriffs get another scheduled raise.

Stan Olsen, a Metro Police lieutenant, told the committee there would be no objection to raises for the rest of the elected county officials. The pay raises would be effective this July.

A similar bill is in the Assembly.

Under the state Constitution, the Legislature must set the salaries of elected officials. Traditionally it makes any pay increase effective after a person runs for re-election.

Carole Vilardo, executive director of the Nevada Taxpayers Association, said her group did not take any stand on the bill.

Young leads a force of 4,280 people at the police department and Rogers supervises more than 550 in the district attorney's office.