Latest pay raise makes Las Vegas city manager highest paid of region

By Jackie Valley

Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016 | 6:30 p.m.

Las Vegas City Manager Betsy Fretwell is officially the highest paid government manager in Southern Nevada.

After singing her praises, the Las Vegas City Council today unanimously approved a 2.5 percent base salary increase for Fretwell as well as a $39,000 bonus.

The raise brings her base salary up to $266,500, which does not include other pay and benefits. The pay increase is retroactive to July 1, the beginning of the city’s fiscal year.

“You are a steady, steady hand, Betsy Fretwell,” Mayor Carolyn Goodman said this morning, capping a discussion that included nothing but positive remarks about her leadership.

Fretwell’s new salary is larger than her peers’ pay in Clark County, Henderson and North Las Vegas. Clark County Manager Don Burnette’s base salary is $264,846, and his responsibilities include oversight of McCarran International Airport, University Medical Center and other regional services not provided by municipalities.

Meanwhile, North Las Vegas City Manager Dr. Qiong Liu’s base salary is $190,000 and Henderson City Manager Robert Murnane’s is $231,927.

With roughly 629,000 residents, the city of Las Vegas has the second-largest population among government entities in Southern Nevada, behind only Clark County. About 954,000 people live in the urban unincorporated areas of Clark County and, thus, fall under its governance.

Last year, the city of Las Vegas raised Fretwell’s salary twice to bring it more in line with government managers in other similar-size cities.

At Wednesday’s meeting, council members described Fretwell as a high-quality leader who has shepherded the city through the dark days of the recession. In the process, they made it clear she’s someone they don’t want to lose.

“You’re not going anywhere as far as I’m concerned,” Councilman Stavros Anthony said. “I’d wrestle you in the parking lot if you tried to leave.”

Fretwell outlined some of her goals for the coming year, which included, among others, focusing on legislative efforts related to the property tax formula, finishing the city’s strategic plan and seeing through efforts to develop Symphony Park.

She also mentioned ongoing tensions between the city and county — and acknowledged that the community at large will benefit if the government entities stop feuding.

“I’d really like to work on improving our relationships with the county,” she told the council. “This has been a really difficult year or two. It would be nice if there was a way to start mending up some of those fences.”

Fretwell, who has been city manager since 2009, oversees nearly 3,000 employees and a $1.2 billion budget.