Horsford: Gibbons' pay cut should take effect sooner

Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford, D-Las Vegas, said Monday he wants the governor to tell him he will take the same pay cut as that ordered for all state workers.

He raised the issue after pointing out the legislation cutting salaries for the governor and other constitutional officers doesn't take effect until January 2011 while proposed cuts for state workers take effect July 1. Under the Nevada Constitution, elected officials can't have their pay raised or reduced mid-term in office. Any change has to wait until after the next election.

Senate Minority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, said the restriction is designed not only to prevent an official from getting himself a big raise during his term but to prevent lawmakers from punitively chopping back the salary of an official they don't like.

"Having said that, these constitutional officers can voluntarily reduce their salaries," said Raggio.

"I would love for the governor to come here and tell us on the record he will take a pay cut," Horsford said.

Raggio said the same question should be posed to all of Nevada's constitutional officers.

Deputy Chief of Staff Mendy Elliott told the committee the governor has pledged to cut his own pay by the same percentage that state workers see their pay cut. He first made that pledge when he announced his proposed 6 percent pay cut during his state of the state address.

Sen. Warren Hardy, R-Las Vegas, said he doesn't see any need for the bill since it couldn't impact the salaries of constitutional officers until after their next elections.

Instead of a percentage pay cut, the proposed budget contains a one day unpaid furlough each month for all state workers. That works out to about 4.6 percent less pay over the course of a year.

The committee took no action on the bill with Chairman Bernice Mathews, D-Sparks joining Hardy in saying the legislation isn't needed.

Contact reporter Geoff Dornan at gdornan@nevadaappeal.com or 687-8750.