Brian Sandoval won’t take $8,500 pay increase

By Cy Ryan

Thursday, Dec. 30, 2010 | 1:49 p.m.

CARSON CITY – Gov.-elect Brian Sandoval says he won't take an $8,500 pay raise. As the soon-to-be leader of the state, he has also encouraged other state elected officials to give up their boost in pay.

Under state law, the salary of state elective officers is being tied to cost-of-living increases given to state workers in July 2007 and July 2008. Workers received a 6 percent increase total in those two years.

Sandoval would be entitled to an increase over Gov. Jim Gibbons' current salary to boost his pay to $149,573. In addition to that he has already said he will take a cut of 4.6 percent, the same amount state workers have been hit with during this biennium.

His salary as a federal district judge was $172,000, but he resigned to run for governor. He has been on the Jones Vargas law firm payroll since his resignation but goes off it Friday. He told a news conference he won't receive any extended benefits.

Sandoval will have to wait 90 days before he qualifies for coverage by the state health insurance policy. In the meantime, he said he and his family will be covered by his Cobra insurance.

Under the law, the pay of Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto will jump from $133,000 to $141,086 on Monday. An increase from $97,000 to $102,888 is scheduled for Secretary of State Ross Miller and Controller Kim Wallin and the pay of Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki will rise from $60,000 to $63,648.

The swearing-in ceremony Monday will be held on the steps of the state capitol. Chief Justice Michael Douglas, the first black member of the Supreme Court, will be administering the oath of office to Sandoval, the first Hispanic to be elected governor.

Sandoval told reporters he wouldn't be a clone for former state Sen. Bill Raggio, R-Reno, who encouraged him to run for governor. He said he respects Raggio, the senior member of the Legislature, but they have disagreements such as on the need for new taxes.

He has also been meeting with leaders of the Senate and Assembly to discuss issues before the upcoming Legislature.

His inaugural speech Monday will be about 10 minutes. That night he will host a dinner at the governor’s mansion for elected officials, including former Govs. Richard Bryan, Bob List and Bob Miller.

He also disclosed that Chris Perry, who he appointed acting director of the state Public Works Department on Wednesday, is thinking about retiring after the session of the Legislature.