Let’s say your local sheriff hasn’t had a raise in years.
Fair enough – most folks understand that sometimes pay needs to catch up.
But what if that raise came with a catch: Every elected county official – sheriffs, clerks, treasurers, commissioners – automatically gets paid more than anyone who works for them, no matter how big the raise?
That’s exactly what’s tucked into Senate Bill 116 (SB116), a new proposal working its way through the Nevada Legislature.
And for taxpayers already facing budget shortfalls, service cuts, and inflation? That’s a tough pill to swallow.
What SB116 Would Do
SB116 would give automatic pay raises to Nevada’s county elected officials, including commissioners, sheriffs, assessors, treasurers, and others.
Here’s the kicker: it ties their pay to the highest-paid person working under them.
If a department hires a new top-dollar manager or negotiates a union raise? The elected official’s salary goes up too – by at least 3% more.
Let’s break it down:
- Starting in July 2025, salaries jump based on what the officials made back in 2015–2016. plus a compounded 3% annual raise for every year since.
- Then, each year moving forward, another 3% raise gets added.
- On top of that? Counties may tack on an extra 2% cost-of-living increase if they want.
In Washoe County alone, this means over $873,000 in new salary expenses in just one year.
By 2026–2027, it rises to nearly $1 million, and the long-term effect is over $2.2 million on future budgets, according to fiscal estimates.
A Raise During a Budget Crisis?
Here’s where it really hits home.
Nevada counties are already struggling with budget holes. Seniors are seeing programs cut. Public safety agencies are scraping to maintain staffing.
And yet, SB116 would hand out automatic raises – whether or not the county can afford it.
“Maybe I’m overreacting,” said one concerned citizen, “but when services for seniors and public safety are being slashed, it feels wrong to hand out raises to politicians who already make six figures.”
She’s not alone.
Conservative voters are already wary of how local government spends their tax dollars. Handing out raises while pleading poverty elsewhere feels like a classic case of “do as I say, not as I do.”
But Aren’t Raises Sometimes Justified?
Sure. Nobody’s arguing that folks shouldn’t get paid fairly for the work they do.
The problem is the structure of this bill.
Tying elected officials’ pay to their highest-paid employee creates a dangerous feedback loop. It gives officials an incentive to approve higher wages for staff – because that means a bump for themselves, too.
And here’s something else worth noting: The bill doesn’t distinguish between full-time constitutional officers (like sheriffs or treasurers) and part-time county commissioners – many of whom don’t manage any staff at all.
Yet they’d still get the same bump.
In Washoe County, commissioner salaries would increase by $30,000 starting this July.
The Opt-Out Option, But Don’t Count On It
SB116 does include a clause allowing counties to decline the raises if money is tight.
But let’s be real: once raises like these are baked in, they’re hard to walk back. Politicians rarely vote to cut their own pay, even during hard times.
And even if counties pause the raises one year, the next time they do go into effect, there’s no retroactive pay – but the higher salary picks up right where it left off.
That means over time, salaries just keep going up.
What’s the Conservative Take?
Conservatives generally believe in fiscal responsibility, limited government, and accountability. SB116 undercuts all three.
- It grows government spending at a time when families are being told to tighten their belts.
- It puts automatic raises on autopilot with no real oversight.
- And it rewards politicians before fixing broken services for the public.
This isn’t about saying elected officials shouldn’t be paid fairly.
It’s about making sure taxpayer dollars are being spent wisely, especially when basic needs like public safety and senior services are on the chopping block.
Bottom Line
SB116 might sound like a simple pay adjustment on paper.
But dig a little deeper, and it’s clear: it’s another example of government taking care of itself before taking care of the people it’s supposed to serve.
Nevada families are watching their budgets. Maybe it’s time their elected officials did the same.
Do you support automatic raises for politicians while public services are being cut? Let your lawmakers know.
Ms. Berkbigler is a veteran government relations professional and former Washoe County Commissioner for District 1 in Reno, Nevada. The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
