County dodges Las Vegas’ bullet in contract with firefighters

By Joe Schoenmann

Sunday, May 16, 2010 | 2 a.m.

Las Vegas government officials decided against ratifying a proposed contract hammered out between city staff and its firefighters union. Clark County sources told the Sun last week that a softer stance by the city could hurt the county’s attempts to radically cut costs in its Fire Department.

Why the city’s change of heart?

From what we hear, it has to do with the fact that the amount of the contract did not match hard-line comments by Mayor Oscar Goodman.

Goodman had said he wanted 8 percent cuts from all city employee unions. But the deal the City Council looked at last week showed a $2.7 million cut instead of the $8.8 million the city had hoped for.

As a Sun story reported Wednesday, the real fear at the county was that plans for radical changes in how the county pays firefighters would be threatened by the city’s softened stance — that county politicians would take their cue from city politicians.

So what happened?

After closed-door meetings, the mayor said the City Council had decided not to ratify the contract. Now the city and firefighters go back to the negotiating table.

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Property tax season is largely over but the Clark County treasurer’s office never rests. Last week, it auctioned properties with three years of unpaid taxes.

I bet it was a large number with all the foreclosures in the county.

There were 22. In 2009, there were 23.

Remember, these are properties with owners who failed to pay their taxes for three years. So these properties started getting into trouble in 2007, when real estate was beginning to cool down in Las Vegas and the foreclosure disaster had not set in.

How much did these 22 properties owe in back taxes?

They owed $364,672.04, including penalties, interest and fees. Only 15 were auctioned. For reasons including court orders, no bids and last-minute payments, seven properties did not sell.

What was the largest bid and the greatest increase beyond the minimum bid amount?

They were one in the same. A single-family residence, 6348 Bullring Lane, owed $23,507 in back taxes. The winning bid was $246,000. The house was valued at $330,000.

What was the total for the winning bids for all the properties?

About $1.2 million.

Where does the money go?

The county gets the $364,672.04 in back taxes, plus about $1,300 per parcel for administrative fees. The rest goes to the owners.

You mean the owners who didn’t pay their taxes?

Yes.

Why?

Rebecca Coates, assistant treasurer, said the county only wants its back taxes. By state statute, the county doesn’t own the property. So the leftover money goes to the owner or rules dictate a hierarchy of where the money goes, such as to lenders for liens and mortgages.

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After Commissioner Steve Sisolak complained about the fee requested by attorneys representing two children allegedly assaulted while living in a Family Services foster home, a county attorney sent the court a letter saying the commission doesn’t approve of “the amount of attorney’s fees requested, nor does it condone such a large amount.”

What was the amount of the settlement?

The county settled with the children and their birth mother for $150,000 — $70,000 for each child and $10,000 for mom. After attorneys fees and expenses, each child was to receive about $40,000.

The county’s response lists Marjorie Hauf and Gregory Mills as attorneys for the children and their mother.

Is the 40 percent fee standard?

Contingency fees — in which a lawyer is paid a percent of a settlement or judgment — vary and are typically worked out between client and attorney.

Phil Pattee, assistant counsel for the Nevada State Bar, said such fees are usually 33 percent before litigation, 40 percent if a suit is filed and 50 percent if it is appealed.