Police negotiations
June 1, 2009 - 9:00 pm
Perhaps one of the worst pieces of legislation in recent memory has inexplicably sailed through both the state Senate and the Assembly and now awaits the governor's signature.
Thankfully, Gov. Jim Gibbons has not been shy about exercising his veto pen, which is precisely what he should do with Assembly Bill 130.
The measure, which concerns the negotiating process for Metro police contracts, was sought by the cop union -- which is all taxpayers need to know. It removes both county or city officials from the negotiating process when it comes to police salaries, turning it all over to the sheriff, who would then take his deal to the Metro Fiscal Affairs Committee, which includes members of the City Council and County Commission.
Currently members of both boards sit in on the actual negotiations.
"The taxpayers of Clark County, through their representatives in the city and county, should do the negotiations," said County Commissioner Steve Sisolak in opposition to the measure. "This is a dangerous precedent. Should the fire chief do the negotiations for the Fire Department? Should (the district attorney) do the negotiations for the district attorneys?"
David Kallas, the Metro detective who heads the police union, maintained the measure is necessary to simplify the process. "Instead of having to spend six or seven months in negotiating a contract, we can get it done in five weeks," he said.
No kidding. But if simplicity is the goal, why not just eliminate the sheriff also and let Mr. Kallas and his deputies set compensation on their own? They could be done in a day! Yippee!
Not that the sheriff wouldn't be a tough negotiator, but without somebody from the county or city in the room -- the two entities which actually have to send the bill to the taxpayers -- where's the incentive to hold down costs? Mr. Kallas has proven himself no friend to the taxpayer when it comes to overly generous public employee salaries and benefits, opposing reforms this session at every turn, so it doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure out which way AB130 tips the scales.
This bill is a ridiculous affront to taxpayers, and the governor should say so when he vetoes it.