Bill to make County Commission job full-time dies

By Cy Ryan

Wednesday, April 22, 2009 | 7:28 a.m.

CARSON CITY – The bill to make the Clark County Commission a full-time job has died quietly.

Senate Bill 11 was never brought to a final vote in the Senate before the deadline Tuesday. Assistant Majority Leader Terry Care, D-Las Vegas said he didn’t have the votes to gain approval.

Tuesday was the final date for each house to approve their bills.

The full-time commissioner bill gained approval of the Senate Government Affairs Committee. But earlier this month, the full Senate voted down an amendment that would have permitted the commissioners, when they went full time, to set their own salaries.

The Legislature now sets the pay for county commissioners. The current base salary for a Clark County commissioner is $73,971 and it will go to $76,930 on July 1.

The bill said a county commissioner must “devote his entire time and attention to the business of his office and shall not pursue any other business or occupation or hold any other office of profit.”

If passed, it would have taken effect after the election or re-election of each commissioner.

Proponents of the bill argued the budget of Clark County is $5.9 billion and that is larger than the state’s. And the Commission oversees the police department, airport, University Medical Center, water issues and parks.

Opponents said the bill would force commissioners, who are doing a good job, to give up their employment or business. And they said the commissioners are involved in community activities now.