Boulder City council to vote on hefty pay hikes

A proposed salary increase for the Boulder City mayor and City Council to be voted on tonight would raise Mayor Bob Ferraro's salary beyond that currently received by his Carson City counterpart.

If approved, council members will increase their pay by $400 a month, and the mayor will receive an extra $650 per month after next year's general election.

Salaries for council members are proposed to jump from $10,363 to $15,363, while the mayor's annual pay would increase from $12,857 to $20,857.

In a September meeting city staff recommended raising council salaries to more closely resemble those of council members in Las Vegas, North Las Vegas and Henderson.

But critics have reminded the council that at a population just over 14,000 Boulder City is closer to towns such as Elko and Mesquite.

By comparison council members in Elko, a similar-sized town of about 19,200 population, earn only $9,636 a year. The mayor there receives $14,460 a year.

In 10,000 population Mesquite council members make $10,000 per year and the mayor earns $13,000 annually.

In Carson City, population 49,300, the four supervisors -- a position comparable to city council members in other towns -- make a yearly $18,000 and the mayor makes $18,600.

Elected officials in Sparks, population 62,400, saw their salaries bumped in 1996. The mayor's annual salary increased from $19,900 to $29,000. Council members realized a $7,000 increase that year, from $10,700 to $17,908.

City officials have argued in support of the raise, saying it would "democratize" city government by allowing poorer residents to hold office.

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