Big Pay Raises Coming for County Officials While Families Struggle
Imagine your boss told you that you’d get automatic raises every year, even if your company couldn’t afford it. Sounds nice, right? Well, that’s exactly what Nevada’s elected county officials are trying to give themselves with Senate Bill 116 (SB116).
The bill, up for a hearing on March 12, would guarantee that every elected county official receives a salary that’s 3% higher than the highest-paid employee they supervise. And get this – counties would be forced to pay these raises even if they don’t have the money!
What This Means for Your Wallet
Let’s talk real numbers. Right now, Clark County Commissioners make between $53,000 and $133,000. But if this bill passes, their salaries could skyrocket to around $750,000 each. That’s more than four times what a U.S. Senator makes!
In Washoe County, commissioners could see their pay jump to over $314,000. Even in smaller counties like Elko, officials would get nice bumps.
The median Nevada worker makes about $58,000 a year. Many families are struggling to put food on the table while facing higher costs for everything. Yet these elected officials want to force through massive pay increases for themselves.
A One-Way Street of Rising Costs
The way SB116 is written creates a never-ending upward spiral of government salaries. Elected officials would get salaries 3% higher than their highest-paid employee.
This naturally encourages them to approve higher salaries for top employees. Their own salaries would then automatically increase as a result. The cycle would continue year after year, creating a perpetual escalator of taxpayer-funded salaries with no upper limit.
What’s worse, the bill removes a critical protection for taxpayers. Currently, county commissions can hold off on salary increases if the county doesn’t have enough money. SB116 eliminates this safeguard completely.
No One Asked For This
Perhaps the most shocking part? The counties themselves didn’t even ask for this bill. It contains what’s called an “unfunded mandate” – meaning the state is forcing counties to spend money they may not have.
The Legislative Counsel Bureau’s own analysis warns that this bill “contains unfunded mandate” and was “not requested by affected local government.”
What Our Side Is Saying
Conservative taxpayer advocates are outraged. They point out that this bill is completely tone-deaf during a time when everyday Nevadans are watching every penny.
“This bill increases the salary of all elected officials in the county by 3% above the highest-paid employee under the supervision of that elected official. It forces the County Commission to raise their own salaries and salaries of other elected officials even if the county does not have the financial resources to raise them,” one taxpayer group warned.
What Happens Next
The Senate Government Affairs Committee will hold a hearing on March 12 at 3:30pm. The hearing will take place in Carson City with video connections to Las Vegas.If you believe in limited government and fiscal responsibility, this is the time to make your voice heard.
You can attend the hearing in person if you’re able to travel to Carson City or Las Vegas. You might also call in to provide testimony at (888) 475-4499 using Meeting ID 829 1452 9368.
Another option is to submit written comments through the legislative website. Many concerned citizens are directly contacting committee members to share their thoughts.
In times when families are cutting back, government should tighten its belt too, not hand itself massive raises. SB116 is exactly the kind of government overreach that conservatives have long warned about – officials helping themselves to taxpayer money with no accountability.
The bill is scheduled to take effect July 1, 2025, if it passes – unless Nevada citizens speak up now.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
