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Wednesday, June 30, 2010 | 2 a.m.
AGAINST THE RAISES
Las Vegas Councilman Steve Ross, top, and Henderson Councilwoman Kathleen Boutin, above, were the lone Southern Nevada Health District board members to vote against a new base salary of $255,096 for its chief health officer. Ross said the board’s approval of the increased salary for the executive “set a bad precedent, when we’ve got local government struggling and laying off employees across the spectrum.” Boutin says she wants the board to reconsider the fee increases for vaccinations and other services.Sun coverage
Beyond the Sun
Steve Sisolak
Boulder City Councilwoman Linda Strickland
Lawrence Weekly
UPDATED STORY: Health District board members: Reconsider fee increases
Having already agreed to 5.5 percent raises for most of the Southern Nevada Health District's 526 employees, the board that oversees the agency last week approved a raise for its chief health officer and at the same meeting voted to increase some of the fees it charges the public for vaccinations and other services.
“They’re raising fees on senior citizens to get a pneumonia vaccine, which doesn’t make any sense to me when they apparently have enough money to give out these big raises,” Clark County Commissioner Steve Sisolak complained after he heard about it.
The Health District board on June 24 approved a new base salary of $255,096 for Dr. Lawrence Sands. His base salary in his last contract, approved three years ago, was $225,000. The Sun began asking questions about the new contract Friday morning, and that night Sands e-mailed a letter to his board members saying that “in good conscience” he could not accept the cost of living raise they were offering him.
“The financial stress our community and residents are enduring weighs heavily on me both personally and professionally as a public health physician,” he wrote.
At the county government building, for example, more than 1,000 positions are not being filled, more than 200 full-timers and countless part-timers have been laid off, and commissioners and the county manager have been fighting unions for salary and benefits concessions.
His prior contract had a provision that the board could give Sands the same percentage cost of living raise as given to other Health District employees, and he had received those raises in each of the last two years, which had raised his base salary to $247,665 as of last month. It was the most recent cost of living raise, $7,420, that Sands gave back.
The 5.5 percent raises at the Health District stem from a union contract approved in 2008 that gives Service Employees International Union employees a 3 percent cost-of-living raise and 2.5 percent step raises. Union employees for Clark County also had built-in cost-of-living raises, but last year the SEIU agreed to cut those increases to ease the county’s fiscal crisis.
Linda Strickland, a Boulder City councilwoman who served as chairwoman at the Health District’s board meeting last week, said as far as she knew the board never asked the SEIU for voluntary salary concessions.
If it had, the union was prepared to argue that the Health District had enough money to fulfill the terms of the 2008 contract, said Amber Lopez Lasater, spokeswoman for the union local.
As of June 2009, it had a balance of about $25 million, more than one-third of its 2009-10 expenses of about $68 million.
Lopez Lasater pointed out that Clark County’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights recommends the county keep reserves of only 8 to 10 percent of its general fund expenditures. That guideline, however, does not apply to other agencies, such as the Health District.
Clark County’s reserve for fiscal 2010 was $124 million, or 9.5 percent of total expenditures of $1.3 billion. But most of that fund balance will be wiped out in the fiscal year that begins July 1 because the county is using most of it to help balance its overall budget.
Strickland said the Health District’s healthy bottom line is the result of cost efficiencies and streamlining. “As an example, we’ve gone paperless,” she said. The agency also has refrained from filling 50 openings.
As for the relatively large balance, she said that money is necessary because “it helps ensure (that) when outbreaks occur, (the district has) the funds to deal with it.” The Health District’s audit committee has recommended the agency keep a reserve amount equal to about two to three months of general fund expenditures.
To protect that large balance — which will fall to $18 million in the coming fiscal year — the district’s board had even discussed creating a fund to “hide” the money, said Commissioner Lawrence Weekly, one of the Health District board members.
The agency’s fear was well-founded. In 2009, county officials said the state made moves that effectively deprived Clark County of $180 million over two years.
But Weekly said he successfully argued against the Health District hiding its reserves. “When it gets to the point where you hide money, it takes away the transparency and trust,” he said.
Sisolak said the amount of reserves makes him wonder whether taxpayers’ elected representatives have put too much trust in the district. In other words, he’s wondering whether the county is giving the district too much money. “I think we have to look at whether or not they need all of that money,” he said.
In fiscal 2010, the Health District got 36 percent of its funding from the county, 2 percent from the state, 13 percent from the federal government and 49 percent from the regulatory and service fees it charges.
In the coming fiscal year, the Health District expects to spend about $82 million, an increase of 6.6 percent.
The Health District is overseen by a 13-person board whose membership, as dictated by state statute, includes appointees from the county commission, the various city councils from throughout the county, representatives of the medical community, an environmental health representative and a representative of a business that could be affected by the board’s decisions.
Neither of the two commissioners who are on the board, Chris Giunchigliani and Weekly, was there for the vote on the Sands contract and to finalize the budget that included the raises for other Health District employees. Giunchigliani was on vacation last week and Weekly had left before the vote.
The only board members to vote against the raise for Sands were Henderson City Councilwoman Kathleen Boutin and Las Vegas City Councilman Steve Ross.
Boutin, a one-time SEIU member, said she is going to ask for a reconsideration of the fee increases “because I’m not so sure that raising fees so we can pay employees is the direction the Health District needs to go.”
Ross said the board’s approval of Sands’ raise “set a bad precedent, when we’ve got local government struggling and laying off employees across the spectrum.”
“They aren’t in debt and Dr. Sands does a great job, but what kind of message does that send, especially when we’re laying people off?” he said.
Strickland, however, said the new contract awarded to Sands was not a raise, because it only followed the increases given to the Health District’s union employees.
“He was entitled by contract to receive a (cost-of-living adjustment) any time the other employees did,” she said.
But, she added, at last week’s meeting the board also disconnected future “adjustments” of the chief health officer’s salary from union employee “adjustments.”
No matter what any other elected officials want to call the raises, they have Sisolak on the verge of calling for an overhaul of the way the Health District operates and its relationship to the county government.
“I think we have to look at the whole system of what’s going on here,” he said. “How can you lay off people in one department and give raises in another? This is crazy. It feels fundamentally broken.”
How out of touch with reality can you get.
First, you must follow the law. Then you can ask for adjustments that will do not break the law or breach agreements such as the agreement with the Union. Only two board members had the courage to stand up and do what is reasonable and explan their position.
Funny how councilman Weekly left the meeting before the vote.
Comment removed by moderator. Off-topic.
Weekly was last seen asking directions on how to get to "F" street.
chris giunchigliani is an absolute joke...
she could care less about taxpayers...
everywhere you turn her name is associated with OUTRAGEOUS salaries...
health district...
firemen...
chris giunchigliani must be fired right now...
NEVER VOTE FOR CHRIS GIUNCHIGLIANI AGAIN!!!
weekly left before the vote...
really...
COWARD!!!
It amounts to a couple of hundred bucks a year for the average worker.
A couple of hundred bucks.
It MIGHT cover their license plate tabs for 1 car.
Note that the contract was negotiated a couple of YEARS AGO.
I imagine the union hating public will demand they give back their couple of hundred bucks.
How absolutely outrageous!!!
Only 5.5% raises? Why not an even ten percent?
"the district's board had even discussed creating a fund to "hide" the money"...
somebody better be fired over this!!!
Just remember how the SEIU looks out for you. The shameful greed of these union members to demand a raise while bilking the elderly is outrageous.
Further evidence that our healthcare system is going broke and we need another layer of government buearacracy to keep it in balance. How in the world do they come up with a 3% cost of living adjustment? Inflation is virtually zero and then another 2.5% on top of that? I guess in the world of union work you just get a raise for showing up for work every year.
"Strickland, however, said the $30,000 awarded to Sands was not a raise, because it only followed the increases given to the Health District's union employees."
First, why would his salary increases be tied to union employee increases? Who negotiated that little gem?
Second, I would definitely call 30k a raise.
Third, Councilman Sisolak, you seem to be the only one to ask the hard questions, please continue.
This is outrageous.
Thank goodness we finally have at least one person who stands up for what is right, and asks the hard questions.
Keep it up Sisolak. I have been impressed.
According to OECD's Health Data 2009, Denmark's health cost per person, public and private, was $3,512. But in the US the cost is more than double at $7,290! U.S. health care is the most expensive system on earth and incredibly wasteful. The U.S. is the only industrialized country in the world that does not support universal health care for its citizens.
Well, the County is still giving raises to their employees and my property taxes went up 3% for 2010 and no the cap has not been in place on my house for a couple years.
"U.S. health care is the most expensive system on earth and incredibly wasteful"
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Most doctors will tell you that alot of that cost is needless testing etc due to the fear of malpractice suits. The US is the most litigious country in the world. So in essence, blame the cost on the lawyers!
Since the Health department can create rules that are more stringent they City or County laws, why not include Wages and Salaries? A Health inspector have stated that the NV congress has given them the rights to enforce and create standards. This Department must be re-organized and stop from practicing their Social engineering policies. Who does the Health department serve when requiring locations two have two restrooms for their customers? The city and county regulations don't, but I guess the SEIU does! We need term limits on clown's that refuse to represent it citizens!!! Stay home and do not collect the cash your stealing by not voting on issues!
This is another example of how out of touch our public employee unions and some elected officials are. Raise the fees for senior citizens, so so government employees get another raise. Do they realize that the unemployment rate in Clark County is over 14%?
Congratulations to Councilman Steve Ross and Councilwoman Kathleen Boutin. Not only did they do the right thing, THEY GET IT! We need more elected official who show their leadership and courage.
Since Boutin and Ross voted against the raises, who voted for them? A vote for the raises is a vote for them to be replaced by the citizens.
Unions are great.
Journey, I agree with you and my post missed the sarcastic point I was trying to make. I have to give Kudo's out to Dr. Sands in turning down a raise like that even though it might be within the terms of the contract. The man clearly has some integrity and compassion.
Weekly left before the vote... I wonder if he learned that from Boutin, who is famous for stepping out "momentarily" to avoid casting her vote on one item, but then returns to her seat and votes for the next item. Selective governing... just step out of the room if a decision might make you unpopular and let everyone else take responsibility while you go hide. Outrageous. How do they even get the option to do that? PLEASE do not commend her behavior, she pulls the same stunt Weekly did at every Henderson meeting.
Hey the little guy got no raise and no cost of living increase....SEIU talked us into that so that would be no layoffs. But they lay off CNA's in the ED and nursing personnel in some departments and this bozo gets a $30,000.00 year raise!! Until the public gets pipping mad the medical mafia will steal all your money, your job and your health care!
Journey. Just a heads up. I am a NZ'er and earlier this year my Brother In Law had a heart problem. They tested him and found he needed Stents inserted. This was done the next day(Friday) and back on feet Monday. Oh, did I mention that this cost him NOTHING out of pocket? Just a couple of dollars extra tax out of his pay. Mmmmm, wonder how much that would have cost here (US). Let's see. Medical Insurance, say $7000 per plus the Co-Pay and then the Top Out, you pay the rest, plus if you are lucky, the Insurance company won't drop you. People complain about what President Obama is trying to do. BTW, I am neither Democrat or Republican, as I can't vote. I am a LEGAL Alien. :)
I have mixed feelings about articles like this. As a conservative, I think we need to take a close look at everything "government" does. But as an employee of the Health District, the sole wage earner in my family, taking care of two kids, one with autism, and a disabled husband who worked anyway but was laid off, I get a little tired of the vitriol people feel is O.K. to spew because we have a contract that gives us a cost of living raise. Believe me, when the economy tanked, myself and many of my colleagues asked if it came down to layoffs or foregoing our COLAs, could we forego the raise. We were told, "wait and see," because we had lost soooo many people through attrition that they might be able to cover it. It did. So we get our 3% COLAs. For me, that's about $150 a month. And thanks, X-Doc, for pointing out that many of us have our lives threatened on a daily basis for doing our jobs. People are stressed, businesses are stressed, people who find out they have an STD or unwanted pregnancy are stressed, but not a single one of us went into Public Health to become rich. We did it because we care about people. And still do, even though I am sure that I will be attacked for even posting this.
MotherDragon;
I won't attack you, but at some point you have to realize that every 3% or $150 per month will bankrupt us all, whether you feel you deserve it or not. The sense of entitlement in this country is what is killing it. Fireman think they deserve every 3% or 5% they get too. Meanwhile, the private sector has laid off and given pay/hour cuts. There is a huge disconnect here and just because Reid and his predecessors were asleep at the wheel doesn't make it right. What goes up must come down sometimes. I guarantee there are probably 10 qualified people who would have forgone the 3% and been happy since they don't have a job.
The sooner government union workers can realize there is not some big brother bank that prints money, the sooner we can start to have rational discussions about sacrifices that must be made. Sooner or later, your choice. Unfortunately, you are union, so we know the answer to that question. The unions next argument is usually to attack the council/commission, but realize they make up such a small part of the macro problem, that you should save your breath. I for one would love to see a few Sisolak's on every elected government board/commission so we could perhaps see some real progress. Until then, you keep your 3% because although I believe your story, there are millions of stories that don't end with a 3% raise, justified or not.
Wait ... 5.5% of $225,000 is $12,375, not $30,000.
30,000 paid over three years. About 4.5% per year.
Now if only the rest of the government top brass would take a lesson from Dr. Sands. A man to be commended at all costs!!!!
Thanks, maybevegas, for your clearly thought-out position. I respect it. I am a conservative, liberalistic-Republican. and also understand, painfully, economics. As I said, my hard-working husband, regardless of his disability, showed up and excelled every day at his private-sector technology-related job, then came home and home-schooled our autistic son so he had a parent at home at all times. He was PRIVATE SECTOR, awesome at what he did, and lost his job anyway. Even with that, I was one of the employees who would have gladly forwent my raise, if it meant that others could stay employed. We were not given that choice. We, the boots on the ground, were not allowed to reopen an existing contract, even though we asked to. We are not in Dr. Sands' position to do so and we all respect the hell out of him for what he did regarding his own raise. We are among those suffering for irresponsible fiscal policies at all levels of government. And regardless of the fact that the health district is union, the first I've ever worked with in my 25-year public health career, I don't actually tow union party line. And, no, most stories these days don't end with any sort of raise. They end like my husband's...who collects NO government benefits, NO unemployment, and even today is trying to find work. My son, though eligible, collects NO government payouts or help of any kind because we don't want to be a burden on society. We are trying to be as self-sufficient as possible. This includes caring for his dying mother who has burned through her retirement fighting cancer. My mother was an immigrant, legally of course, from Holland (I'm my first sibling born int he U.S.-dad was military) and we know all too well the devastation socialism causes...my aunt cannot even receive simple treatment for restless leg syndrome because it's just not that important in Holland. My cousins pay 65% income tax there...seriously, we don't want that here.
My point was simply this: success and living a good quality of life is the American dream. One I hold dearly. It is every person's right to seek the most gainful employment possible and get paid for what they do at a reasonable level. Where I have a problem is when newspapers and media outlets try to foment class-envy and discontent. Then we can be mad at each other instead of telling the government to get out of our lives and let free-enterprise and the American dream run free again. So when the contract opens next year, we will have a choice to make. If it means no raise, even loss of income, because the economy stinks then so be it. But until then, I will try to keep my family afloat like the rest of us. I am ETERNALLY GRATEFUL to have work and to work under a person who has a conscience and cares about the public we serve. I am also grateful that there are people out there, like you, willing to have honest, courteous discourse on these issues.
Their salaries should be frozen for the next three years. And if they have the money, fees should be cut, especially for vaccines. With 14% unemployment and a collapsed housing market, and no upturn in sight, it's time to rein this group in.
I find it hard to defend such raises when many in the private sector (myself included) have taken a 100% pay cut by our (now former) employers. We have cut spending at home to the bone. Of course, I get to pay for my own health insurance now ($600 a month, no dental). Yes, I am working now, but had to learn to live on a lot less. The union leaders are really out of touch with reality. Before they cry about needing the 5 1/2 percent, they should learn to live on a little less. If you are forced to, It is amazing how much one can cut living expenses.
lets see gmag, for the doctor, it would be a mere $10,000.00 a year.
If an average worker makes $15.00 hr which is really low and I doubt anyone there makes $15.00hr anyway, that comes to $400.00 a year per employee.and when everyone else is either being layed off, or had their pachecks cut and benifits reduced, YES, we do demand it be renegotiated.Unions do nothing but cost the rest of us money while they become richer.
To motherdragen....My life is in danger everyday too....yet I forgo any COLA.....and they are still laying off.....and guess what I am a single mom.....all my money goes to daycare.........try coming and working in a very busy county hospital......we are expected to do the impossible with very little supplies and less staff.....and if you can't spread yourself so thin as to care for maybe 70 to 80 patients and their family members in triage......well you may be demonized, have to hire three lawyers to defend your self and still lose your licence! Stress you don't know stress until you've worked in a very busy county hospital......Get a grip.....everyone needs to sacrifice including the Health Department.....
To puppyluv, since health care workers are the most overworked, underpaid, underappreciated people I know and have the most responsibility, I wish you the best. If I ruled the world, movie stars, sports figures, and rockers would be the ones making $15 to $20 an hour (like my best friends, one who is a paramedic and the other a nurse who has worked in just about every health care system in town) and nurses would be paid what they are worth...priceless, in my opinion. And your job handling patients and families while sick, in pain, and upset qualifies for a medal. Good luck and God bless. Maybe some day the powers that be will realize the people who have others' lives in their hands everyday should be afforded all the respect and compensation they are due.
Motherdragon you are not the only one who works in a risky environment. I've lost my job not long ago, a few months back and now I am working pretty much doing the same thing but for a lot less pay, nearly 50%cut. I work in a risky environment too in a low income neighbourhood. Many hourly employees get their hours cut and wont even see a cost of living raise. I work in a flexible stay/pay apt complex. Ever heard of convenience store clerks, they put their lives in danger everyday they go to work and so do many people working day to day.
I have a co-worker who has not gotten a raise in 3 years and mind you she makes a lot less than health care employees.
is steve minagil still the lawyer for the health district
As a TAXPAYER ... They TAX you the full 3% each year if the township needs the MONEY or not !!!!! Time to Sell the House and move out of BOOT HILL !!!!!
In digging around on the health district's website I found the minutes of the chief health officer review committee meeting minutes. This is an interesting comment from the last meeting held on june 18th...Chair Giunchigliani asked Board members be told that the salary on line 27 reflects past cost of living adjustments and not a salary increase. The minutes are posted for all to see at http://www.southernnevadahealthdistrict..... Maybe the irate commissioners and board members who voted in opposition should read the minutes before passing judgment. Seems like the committee knew what it was doing.