Lobbyist Bob Swadell has urged Nye County Commissioners to increase their own pay, in accordance with a new bill passed by the 2007 state legislature.

"There is no vote that you will ever take that's more difficult than raising your own salary," Swadell told commissioners under public comment at the start of last week's meeting.

He asked a group of supporters of the measure to stand up. About 20 people rose behind him. Swadell has lobbied for various causes from a new Pahrump community college to the brothels.

Senate Bill 516 increases pay for various elected officials and allows county commissioners to increase their own pay 7 percent for the fiscal year beginning July 1 and 3 percent for the three years after that.

Nye County commissioners receive an annual salary of $22,796.

"We're talking about someone administering a $36 million budget that's going to go to $50 million over the next three to five years. I have a problem with that," Swadell said. "When I work out the wage rate you're working at, it's probably $8 an hour. I don't want someone administering my $50 million in taxes at $8 an hour."

Inflation has run rampant, he said, as evidenced by the price of gas and groceries.

Swadell, in comparing the county commissioner salary for hours worked to a fast food restaurant employee, said, "I really don't want to turn the budget of Nye County over to McDonald's because they'll ask you if you want fries with it."

He said the group of supporters wants county commissioners to raise their own salaries to $40,000 annually.

"We'd like to get some action at the legislative level to get an annual COLA (cost-of-living adjustment) so you don't get so far behind the curve," Swadell said.

The existing legislation allowed commissioners to increase their pay up to 126 percent of the salary in effect Jan. 1, 2003.

The new bill allows county commissioners to increase their salary up to 131.7 percent of the salary that was in effect Jan. 1, 2003, for the 2007-2008 fiscal year beginning July 1, or $30,025 annually. By the 2008-2009 fiscal year they may increase that base pay 136.9 percent, or $31,207 annually; by 2009-2010 up to 142.4 percent, or $32,461, and for fiscal year 2010-2011 up to 148.1 percent to $33,760 annually.

Resident Steve Johnson, however, said later in the meeting the commissioners should increase their pay in increments, not just double their money.

Commissioner Joni Eastley inquired if Swadell knew there were statutory limits on how much commissioners can be paid. Commission Chairman Gary Hollis wouldn't answer a question on whether commissioners deserved more pay as the meeting adjourned.

Clark County commissioners last week voted to raise their annual salaries from $68,390 to $71,127 on July 1, increasing to $80,008 by July 1, 2010.

Nye County commissioners receive per diem for travel expenses as well. Then there are perks like the two new Chevrolet Silverado pickup trucks the commission just approved so Pahrump commissioners Peter Liakopoulos and Butch Borasky can drive to meetings in Tonopah.

Another piece of legislation, Senate Bill 516, increases the annual pay for the district attorney from $98,707 to $105,616 this upcoming year, and up to $115,410 by fiscal year 2010-2011, the final year of District Attorney Bob Beckett's present term.

Sheriff Tony DeMeo will see a pay increase from $81,846 to $87,575 effective July 1 under the bill. By the time DeMeo finishes his present term in 2010-2011, his salary will be $92,909.

The annual salaries of the county clerk, assessor, recorder and treasurer will each increase from $65,012 to $69,563. That will increase to $71,650 in fiscal year 2008-2009, $73,799 by fiscal year 2009-2010 and $76,013 by fiscal year 2010-2011.

Senate Bill 248 increased the annual salary for district court judges. Under that legislation, the annual base pay of Fifth District Judges Robert Lane and John Davis will go up from $130,000 to $160,000. District judges with over four years in office, which includes Lane and Davis, can add 2 percent of their salary for each year of service.