Teacher pay raises uncertain in face of budget dilemma

The uncertainty surrounding state funding for public employee pay raises has put Clark County School District officials between a rock and a hard place.

If School Board members approve a 4 percent cost of living increase for teachers without the guarantee of state funds, they could be accused of financial recklessness.

If district leaders back away from the 4 percent pay raises that have been formally negotiated with the Clark County Education Association, they could be accused of acting in bad faith and committing an unfair labor practice.

"These are the issues that are certainly on my mind," district general counsel Bill Hoffman said Thursday.

Gov. Jim Gibbons is considering calling a special session of the Legislature to reduce state-funded pay raises from 4 percent to 2 percent. Superintendent Walt Rulffes believes that would leave the district to make up $45 million to $50 million out of its existing budget to cover the shortfall.

School officials are awaiting a state report on sales tax revenue that will determine whether a special session is necessary to rescind all or part of the promised pay raises for teachers, university staff and state employees.

Hoffman did not want to discuss legal strategy, but said he would provide the School Board with options. When asked whether School Board members could back away from the tentative teacher contract that's currently being ratified by members of the Clark County Education Association, Hoffman said yes.

"The board is not legally bound to accept it," Hoffman said. "They could send us back to negotiation."

Jeff Weiler, the district's chief financial officer, said it "would be very challenging" to scrap the proposed deal since the process is so advanced. The district already has approved a support staff employee contract that includes a 4 percent pay increase that takes effect July 1.

"It's not like 4 percent is the number we came up with," Weiler. "It was legislated."

John Jasonek, executive director of the education association, said he is confident the district will keep the deal intact since tentative agreements are protected by case law. He predicted his membership easily would approve the 4 percent pay raise because they probably wouldn't get a better deal.

"They would lose money," Jasonek said.

Contact reporter James Haug at jhaug @reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4686.