Clark County Council approves raises for nonunion workers

Clark County’s nonunion employees will see a 3 percent increase in their paychecks starting Jan. 1 after the county council unanimously approved the raises Tuesday.

The pay increases apply to M1, M2 and M3 employee classifications. M1 employees include department heads, deputies of elected departments and other senior staff; M2 employees are senior and middle managers, first-line supervisors and nonsupervisor professionals; M3 employees include all other hourly employees not represented by a union.

Lora Provolt, director of human resources, said the raises were needed to remain competitive and ensure equity.

“It is important to make sure that we are being competitive with this group and (have) comparable adjustments to keep pace with the represented groups,” Provolt told the council.

The pay increases will add about $1.8 million to the county’s operating expenses. According to a staff report, $966,000 will come from the general fund and $817,000 will come from other funds.

March pay hikes

The county gave similar pay increases to 1,100 employees, about 70 percent of its total workforce, in March as part of contract negotiations with several unions. The increases went into effect retroactively to the start of the year at a cost of $5.1 million.

The March increases came about after the Office & Professional Employees International Union Local 11, Professional and Technical Employees Local 17, Laborers Local 335 and AFSCME Local 307 filed grievances in 2022 over a 20 percent pay increase given to county Manager Kathleen Otto over a three-year period. The unions said their members should be given the same increase over the three years.

Shortfall forecast

The most recent pay increases come at a time when the county is facing a significant budget shortfall.

Despite a forecast that includes increased sales tax revenue in 2026, the county could be short by nearly $17 million next year.