County workers get back pay

Clark County must pay more than $1 million to employees who convinced an arbitrator their salary ranges were lower than those in counties and businesses of a similar size.

Without as much as a word, the County Commission unanimously agreed Tuesday to pay 218 workers a total of about $1.3 million to cover retroactive salaries and benefits.

"It was a little surprising to me," County Manager Dale Askew said Tuesday of the amount owed to employees. "But having this happen earlier in the (fiscal) year gives us more time to manage it."

The salary dispute dates back to 1994, when Clark County hired a firm to conduct a classification and compensation study. After looking at salary ranges offered by other government agencies and the private sector, the county adjusted the pay of many of its 6,000 employees.

"We had a countywide adjustment in salaries to bring them in line with the market at the time," Askew said. "Some of the salary ranges decreased and some were increased."

Those who felt they were treated unfairly addressed an internal appeals board. Employees who still objected after the board's ruling pleaded their case to John Kagel, an arbitrator out of San Francisco.

In addition to awarding the retroactive pay, which is a one-time cost to the county, Kagel ruled that the employees were entitled to a 4 percent salary increase. The raises will cost the county about $527,000 annually.

Some 85 percent of the county's $600 million budget goes toward salaries, and while Askew said there will be no layoffs, administrators must look toward staffing to come up with the money.

He said the county will save money by holding off on filling positions when employees leave voluntarily. Askew emphasized that tax hikes are not an option.

"We just have to be as efficient as we can," he said. "It may mean redeploying resources in a more efficient manner."

While Askew admitted he was alarmed by the arbitrator's decision, he said if only about 200 employees out of 6,000 were upset, the county did an adequate job of adjusting salaries initially.

"That is not too bad of a ratio," he said.

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