Commissioners extend county furloughs, forgo pay increase

By Kyle B. Hansen

Tuesday, June 1, 2010 | 3:51 p.m.

Clark County commissioners voted Tuesday to continue unpaid furloughs for county employees and to forgo their own scheduled pay raises.

Commissioners unanimously voted to continue the voluntary furlough program, which has saved the county more than $1.3 million since July 1, 2009.

Other government agencies that have separate boards, such as the Water District and Regional Transportation Commission, aren’t included in the furlough program.

The county first began furloughs in December 2008. Commissioners approved expansions of the program in February and September last year.

In a separate action, commissioners voted to skip their scheduled 4 percent salary increase, which would have taken effect July 1.

Commissioners received pay increases in 2007 and 2008, but similarly voted to forgo the increase in 2009.

“We’re asking our employees to consider concessions to get us through this difficult time and I think for us to have credibility when we make that request we have to be willing to do the same thing,” said Chairman Rory Reid, who proposed the action.

Salaries for the seven commissioners will stay at $73,971.90 each for the next year.

Also in Tuesday’s meeting, commissioners voted to ratify the appointment of Randall J. Tarr as assistant county manager.

County Manager Virginia Valentine appointed Tarr to fill the position of Phil Rosenquist, who retired April 30 after working for the county for nearly 20 years.

Tarr has been the county’s director of real property management for 2 1/2 years. Previously he worked for Lewis Operating Corp., KB Home, North Las Vegas’ Public Works department and Carter Burgess Inc.

He will be one of two assistant managers. A third assistant manager position has been vacant since Darryl Martin left the county last year.

Tarr will oversee the departments of Public Works, Comprehensive Planning, Development Services, Business License, and Air Quality and Environmental Management.

He also will be the county manager’s representative to the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada, the Regional Flood Control District and the Southern Nevada Health District.