Cost-of-living hikes approved

Dan Kulin

Wednesday, June 18, 2003 | 9:19 a.m.

The members of Henderson's police and firefighters unions, as well as nonunion city employees such as top administrators, will receive cost-of-living raises of at least 3 percent in each of the next five fiscal years beginning July 1 under agreements the City Council approved Tuesday.

The city will also increase the maximum contribution to an employee's insurance costs by $50 a month for non-union staff and firefighters and by $40 a month for police each year through 2008.

The increased pay and benefits for police and firefighters through the 2007-2008 fiscal year are expected to cost the city about $7.6 million, City Finance Director Steve Hanson said.

The increased compensation package for the 384 nonunion employees is expected to cost another $7.6 million, Hanson said.

The approved raises are considered cost-of-living increases and do not replace performance-based raises of up to 5 percent an employee may also receive, Vince Guerrie, city labor relations manager, said.

The agreements were approved 4-0 by the council on Tuesday. Councilwoman Amanda Cyphers abstained from voting on the three agreements because her husband, Michael Cyphers, is the city's emergency management coordinator, which is a nonunion position.

The councilwoman said she abstained from voting on the police and firefighters union contracts because the agreement for nonunion employees is based on the negotiated outcomes of the two union contracts.

The enhanced compensation packages come as the state legislators wrestle with the state's dire financial predicament.

Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson said that while there was some concern the state budget would be balanced on the backs of municipal governments, that didn't happen, and city budget projections show the raises are affordable.

"The state did not raid city revenues ... if it had, I don't know if that would have affected wages, but it would have been a factor in every decision we make," Gibson said.

"We believe that our revenue trends will support the raises ... And the raises that were given were in line with other entities in Southern Nevada," Gibson said.

Last year North Las Vegas police union members received a five-year contract that included cost-of living raises of 3.75 percent in the first year and 4 percent in each of the next four years.

The contract with the Henderson Police Officers Association gives its 277 members raises of 3.25 percent on July 1; 3.5 percent on July 1, 2004, July 1, 2005 and July 1, 2006; and a 4 percent raise on July 1, 2007.

The 147 members of Henderson's International Association of Firefighters Local 1883 get raises of 3 percent July 1, and 3.5 percent on July 1 in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007.

The nonunion employees, which include department managers, assistant department managers and professional staff such as engineers and accountants, will receive a 3.25 percent raise July 1 and 3.5 percent raises on July 1 in 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007.

The city now contributes up to $597 per month per employee for insurance costs.

That maximum contribution will increase by $40 a month beginning Jan. 1 for police union members, and will increase an additional $40 per month each year through 2008.

The nonunion staff and firefighters union members will see their monthly maximum insurance contribution increase by $50 Jan. 1, and again each year through 2008.

The police and firefighters' current union contracts expire June 30.

The labor contract with Teamsters Local 14, whose membership includes city clerical staff, laborers and some supervisors, expires June 30, 2004. Those worker are scheduled to get a 2.2 percent cost-of-living raise July 1.