Context deflates manager’s salary

Sunday, Aug. 5, 2007 | 1:14 a.m.

We're going to start off with a quiz, but to make it simpler, we'll make it multiple choice.

The topic: salaries of public officials. And just in case you were up late last night, we'll throw in some clues.

Because as a general rule workers usually are paid more with increased duties, we'll list some indicators of responsibility, such as the size of the agency's budget and staff.

So, which head honcho brings home the most bacon?

Easy, right? Valentine any day.

Nope. Valentine, with a base salary of $199,118, is paid less than the four other officials.

Commissioners will consider changing that Tuesday. She's been on the job for about a year now, and that means it's time for a performance review and salary adjustment.

She's likely to get glowing reviews, having seen commissioners through some trying times with a criminal investigation and financial straits at the county-owned University Medical Center, and myriad problems in the county's child protective services department.

Both of those problem areas seem to be improving now. Valentine removed Lacy Thomas as the hospital's chief executive in January, and the new administration she put in place has promised to do things by the book.

She also fended off a lawsuit from the American Civil Liberties Union and the Youth Law Center by agreeing with those organizations on a plan to improve the county's foster care system.

Commission Chairman Rory Reid said Tuesday's discussion will likely focus on the size of her pay increase, rather than whether she should get one.

"She came into that job at a very difficult time," Reid said. "There are people with less responsibility than her who are compensated more."

So who does make the most?

Water czar Mulroy, with a base salary of $261,604. Keeping people hydrated - and golf courses green - pays.

Salaries of the other chiefs: Selby, $206,065; Speight, $212,032; and McNeely, $246,462.

Maybe it's Nevada's anti-government libertarian streak, but salaries for public officials here stick pretty closely to an odd formula: the more the responsibility, the less the pay.

Call it Nevada-nomics.

Speaking of seemingly backward financial formulas, here's one for you.

Gift shops are not an essential public service, right?

But the Clark County Museum has one, which can be justified if such a shop covers its own costs and even brings in some extra dough through sales.

The problem is, that's not happening at the museum gift shop, according to an internal county audit that wrapped up last week.

The museum gift shop lost about $14,738 in the last six months of 2006.

And during that time, guess what size discount employees were giving themselves on gift shop merchandise. Ten percent? Twenty percent? Thirty percent? Forty percent?

County Auditor Jerry Carroll found the answer to be: 40 percent. He also found that gifts are often sold below cost.

Additionally, too many employees had access to the safe and the combination has never been changed, creating the potential for misappropriation of funds, although the audit did not find any.

The county's parks and recreation department is taking steps to fix the problems.