Monday, June 18, 2018 | 7:50 a.m.
CARSON CITY — A number of Nevada boards and commissions are breaking the law by paying their directors more than the governor, according to a state audit.
The audit made public last week shows 12 percent of the boards reviewed were in violation of the state statute limiting salaries to 95 percent of what the governor is paid, the Nevada Appeal reported .
Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval makes nearly $142,000 each year.
Four full-time boards — pharmacy, medical, contractors and accountancy — and the speech and environmental part-time boards paid directors more than the governor, according to the audit. The state Board of Pharmacy had the highest paid director with a salary of nearly $182,000.
One executive director was employed part time by a board while working as an independent contractor for two other boards, according to the audit. That director received $194,000 in 2017 and was on track to make $208,000 next year.
While most of those boards set the salaries for their director, auditors said the wages are still controlled by the 95 percent rule.
A number of the boards sent letters and comments in protest and disagreement with the audit findings. The boards' responses led Sandoval at the audit committee meeting to charge that the letters were defiant.
"Some of the boards and commissions feel like they're autonomous and they don't have to respond," Sandoval said.
Sandoval said it seems like the boards feel like the executive branch no longer has authority over them after he appoints board members.
"It's really frustrating when my office has to bang heads with the boards," Sandoval said
Sandoval said he would issue a request for the state Attorney General to issue an opinion on the legality of the salary issues.
